City managerLeeappointscouncilPeterascity
“We need to do what’s right for our community because having great schools is just what we need to have. That’s nonnegotiable.” Nancy Thrower School Board Member See Teacher, page A5
Lee has worked for Ocala in the Growth Management department for 20 years. He made an assistant city manager on July 6, 2021. Lee’s base salary as city manager is $225,500. Under Ocala’s charter, the city council has the authority to hire and fire those serving in the positions of city manager, city auditor, city attorney, and city clerk. Except for the police department, which falls under the supervision of the mayor, the city manager has authority over all other city 1,100-plus employees. The city manager oversees Ocala’s almost $1 billion annual budget.
VOLUME 3 ISSUE$236 SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
Arnette House Regatta Boat Race Sept. 10 Page B5
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
See Hotel Marion, page A2
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Plans to restore the Hotel Marion pass their first hurdle
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hen local philanthropists and real estate developers David and Lisa Midgett announced their intention to restore the tallest building in downtown Ocala back into a boutique hotel called The Hotel Marion, there was one big challenge: they needed to own all of the units in the historic structure.
fter Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed legislation to utilize retired veterans and first responders to teach in public school classrooms, one school board member in Marion County questioned why it’s still difficult for members of other fields to become educators. Board Vice-Chair Allison Campbell raised the issue at the September 1 Administrative Briefing and Work Session regarding the training process for those who have received a bachelor’s degree in a major not related to education. At a time where the district is in critical need of educators, she said she hopes for a way to more easily accommodate anyone who is qualified to teach in a classroom to do so. “I would like to see adjustments on how that certification for teachers process looks for those [who are] changing careers,” said Campbell. “We have some updates that have been happening with veterans and those that have come forward in recent legislation. What hasn’t changed is the time requirements for those to receive certification…even if they have a bachelor’s or potentially have a master’s degree when it’s not in a subject that is transferrable easily.” The discussion comes after the governor proposed several incentives for retired veterans and first responders to re-enter the workforce and ease the strain of a statewide teaching shortage. The proposals include incentives of fee waivers and bonuses, apprenticeship programs for those with associates degrees and a scholarship program for teachers of dual-enrollment courses, according to the governor’s office. For teaching candidates with a degree in education or the certification area desired, once the candidate passes all examinations and training necessary, they receive a certificate that may be renewed every five years. By comparison, someone who wishes to change careers to become an educator or who wishes to teach after earning a degree in a different subject matter will earn a three-year nonrenewable initial temporary certificate and will have to go through another extensive process to earn a renewable certification once their three-year period is up, according to MCPS and the Florida Department of Education.
The Ocala City Council in a 4-1 vote named Peter Lee city manager at its Sept. 7 meeting, removing the interim tag the 20-year city employee has had since April 19 when he took over after the council fired City Manager Sandra Wilson. At the council’s Aug. 16 meeting, council members Jay Musleh and Barry Mansfield voiced support for making Lee the next city manager. There had been no public discussion up until that point, and the issue was set for the board’s Sept. 7 agenda. Council member James Hilty qualified his “no” vote with the recommendation that the council do a national search for the next city manager. “Nothing against Pete,’’ he said, “but I think we owe it to the citizens of Ocala to try to find the best candidate possible, so I think we should do national search.” Council member Kristen Dreyer indicated she had always intended to support a national search for a candidate, but after having worked with Lee for the last 20 weeks, she was confident he has the ability to lead the city. Council president Ire Beth indicated he wasn’t sure if council had the right person in Lee, but he was willing to give him the next two years to prove himself. Betha added, “We can always terminate him if he doesn’t work out, and we would be no further back than where we are now.” Ocala resident Brian Creekbaum was the only member of the public at the meeting to oppose the move and to recommend a national search. “I don’t think you can hire the best people unless you look for them. And I don’t think you can credibly claim you hired the best people unless you have looked for the best people,” said Creekbaum.
While the board discussed opening pathways for out-of-field educated candidates to become certified, some members expressed that they in no way want to lower the standards for teaching certifications.
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By Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@ocalagazette.com
“I don’t ever want to minimize the work that our teachers have done and what they’ve done to become certified teachers,” said Board Chair Eric Cummings. “There’s a shortage of qualified people being in front of our students and being out there in the classroom. I don’t want to just ‘put the book out there,’ but I think the state has the ability to open up some pathways to get people in the classroom.” Board Member Nancy Thrower said she has personal experience with being hired as an educator after coming from outside of the field of education. Thrower received degrees in equestrian studies and psychology from Lake Erie College then pursued a career in education in 1997. She then worked at North Marion High School as a paraprofessional until she became certified to teach full“There’stime. a lot of School board calls for new pathways into teaching
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File photo: February 10, 2022 [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
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On Aug. 26, Kevin Sheilley, president and CEO of the CEP, sent an email to the city council indicating that the CEP board had agreed unanimously to once again encourage the council to conduct a nationwide search for a new city manager. He wrote: “We understand and know that Pete Lee has done a great job in the interim role and understand the desire by some Council members to dispense with a search. We think this would be shortsighted and ultimately unfair to both Mr. Lee as well as to the City. You want to know that you have the best candidate serving in this position and that he or she was chosen as the best candidate. A search affords you the opportunity to ensure that is the case and ultimately if Mr. Lee is the selection, to know that you truly have the best leader for our community. This request should in no way be seen as a slight to Mr. Lee but, on the contrary the belief that by going through the process and by giving his application the strong review it deserves, you are securing both his and the community’s success. Musleh closed the discussion with a reminder to the CEP that the city council members were elected by the public to guide the city in these decisions, not the CEP.
The Ocala/Marion Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) had written a letter to the council in April after Lee’s interim appointment encouraging a national search.
David Midgett told the Gazette recently that the couple has finally acquired ownership of every unit at the building, located at 108 N. Magnolia Ave. “We had multiple hurdles to overcome, including owners who didn’t want to sell as well as a few title problems and code issues,’’ he said, “but our team was able to complete the acquisition phase earlier this month.” The Midgetts are finalizing financing with a local community bank and are building their list of partners to pull off the ambitious project. “We have entered into a Design/Build contract with
The Hotel Marion will return
By Florida News Service
INMATE NUMBERS EXPECTED TO STEADILY CLIMB
As a legislative panel prepares Friday to consider a plan to activate Florida National Guard members to help at short-staffed prisons, a recent report by state analysts shows that the number of inmates is expected to steadily climb in the coming years. The number of inmates plunged early in the COVID-19 pandemic, in part because court closures caused a backlog of cases. The state ended the 2020-2021 fiscal year with 80,495 inmates, down from 95,626 two years earlier, according to a report issued last month by the state Criminal Justice Estimating Conference. But the report shows that the inmate numbers have started to steadily increase and are expected to hit 85,682 inmates at the June 30 end of the current fiscal year. The growth is expected to continue, reaching 93,335 inmates by the end of the 2027-2028 fiscal year, according to the report. The Joint Legislative Budget Commission on Friday is scheduled to consider a proposal to free up $31.25 million that, at least in part, would be used to cover the costs of activating National Guard members to help at prisons because of a shortage of correctional officers. Florida has long grappled with shortages of correctional officers and recently has taken steps such as increasing pay to help hire and keep officers. The shortages have resulted in officers working large amounts of overtime and supervising numerous inmates.
Belea Keeney Reporter belea@magnoliamediaco.com
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Hotel Marion
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Continued from page A1 The Collage Companies out of Lake Mary, and retained local architect John Donahue,” said David Midgett. “HDG Hotels is an outstanding full-service hospitality company that will be our operating partner for the hotel and will also help us with pre-construction technical services and brand selection,’’ said Lisa Midgett. “Vivant Capital is an international asset management firm that will assist with overall management of the project. We are also finalizing terms with a world class food and beverage partner for our restaurant and bars.” Navroz Saju, founder and principal at HDG Hotels, and Azim Saju, president and CEO for HDG Hotels, jointly stated that “The Hotel Marion is yet another opportunity for HDG to develop a hotel in Ocala that will positively impact our home community. This historic building and block in our downtown have a great story to tell. We are excited about what the Midgetts have planned and to be a part of the building’s return to serving as a destination hotel.” The Midgetts expect the preconstruction and design phase to take another six months, with demolition and construction to begin in March 2023, and the new hotel opening in fall of 2024. “We still have tenants in the upper floors through the end of 2022, so we can’t really start working on the building until they have found new offices,” explained David Midgett. The Midgetts also hope to receive financial incentives from the City of Ocala similar to those granted to other downtown hotel and economic-catalytic projects. “The city has been great to work with, and they clearly believe this is one of the most important restoration projects in Ocala right now,” said David Midgett. Incentives for downtown development and redevelopment have previously been funded by the city’s downtown Community Redevelopment Agency. CRAs are the publicly financed rebuilding of an older urban area distressed by social, physical, environmental or economic conditions that discourage private investment. The goal is to transform underutilized properties into productive assets to improve the community. The Downtown Ocala CRA has its own separate trust fund, called Tax Increment Financing or TIF. A portion of the property tax revenue collected within the boundaries of the CRA is deposited into the associated trust fund and all expenditure of trust fund money must be spent within the boundaries from where it was generated.TyeChighizola, director of Growth Management for the City of Ocala, explained to the Gazette how a TIF“Let’sworks.say downtown real estate is valued at $1 million,” said Chighizola. “Anything beyond that $1 million value over the next 32 years is more money for downtown. So, if it’s $10 million, that $9 million in growth is part of the CRA, and that $1 million is part of that TIF. “All that money from that $1 million can go anywhere in the city or county, but that[tax revenue on the] $9 million, that growth, that stays in the CRA,” he added. “So, the county doesn’t get that portion of it. And the city can’t use it for anywhere else other than that CRA.”The Ocala City Council members serve as the CRA Board; but legally, it is a separate entity than the council itself. The CRA Board meets prior to city council meetings, as needed, on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 4 p.m. at City Hall. Growth DepartmentManagementstaffmonitor and administer projects and programs for the Ocala CRA. Chighizola confirmed to the Gazette that the Downtown Ocala CRA would likely be explored be as source of funding to help the project and that city staff looks forward to hearing more details about the project.Chighizola indicated that typically funds paid from the CRA trust fund are reimbursements after the developer has executed the project and spread out over a few years so that they can be budgeted. In addition to CRA funds, the city is also a valuable partner in figuring out how to increase parking to support all the projects anticipated within the northern side of the downtown CRA.
The Midgetts plan one last big party before starting construction. “We are planning an invite-only New Year’s Eve black-tie event,’’ said Lisa Midgett. “We want Ocala to have one last chance to say goodbye to the ballroom before it is renovated as a fine dining restaurant, and of course we plan on raising money for our favorite local charities as well.’’
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Building History
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According to history provided by the City of Ocala, citizens of Ocala came together to finance the construction of the Marion Hotel in 1927. The costs of the initial construction were covered by the sale of stock certificates sold by the Community Hotel Corporation, using the slogan “What Ocala Builds, Builds Ocala”, with all the capital raised in just six weeks. The seven-story Mediterranean Revival hotel was built to accommodate Ocala’s growing tourism and business travelers and remains one of Ocala’s tallest buildings. Like many historic downtown buildings, the Marion Hotel suffered in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The building was added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and in 1985, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation granted a facade easement to protect the building and ensure it would be preserved and maintained for future generations. In the 1990s, the building was converted to office condominiums as the Ocala National Bank building and renamed the Marion Sovereign Building in 2007.
Evelyn AccountAndersonExecutive evelyn@magnoliamediaco.com
Sue Kerrigan of The Villages Honor Flight, left, talks with Ron and Elizabeth Ewers during an Honor Flight meeting at Mimi’s Cafe on State Road 200 in Ocala on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
Honor and love take flight
Veterans Bob Mundinger, U.S. Army (1962-1963), Harry Schoepf, U.S. Air Force (1967-1969) and Elliott Wilkins, U.S. Air Force (1961-1966), left to right.
“He was ‘board’ out of his mind,” Whitacre-Ewers said with a laugh. “We were in the same but different clubs; basically, everything except the country club. He was a big shot and I was a little shot,” she Self-deprecatingadded. humor aside, Whitacre-Ewers has done her fair share of volunteering locally. She assisted the Juvenile Detention Center, United Way and spearheaded the creation of the Marion County Family YMCA in 1986 (now the Frank DeLuca YMCA).Asmuch as Whitacre-Ewers loves to talk about empathy and her love of helping others, she keeps redirecting the spotlight to her husband, Ron. “I flew 49 states as a flight attendant until their goofy rules disqualified me when I got married to Bob,” she reminisced. “Ron took me to my 50th state, Alaska, on our honeymoon. … I’m very blessed. He’s a very compassionate, very sensitive, very sweet person.” For the upcoming honor flight, Whitacre-Ewers gets choked up when she expresses her joy about theShetrip.requests that Ocala citizens write letters in care of the Villages Honor Flight organization. “The Villages Honors Flight calls it Mail Call,” Whitacre-Ewers explained. “You put down your address on cards, letters, notes, however you want to give kudos, and they hand these to the vets to show them how much they’ve meant to people and what they’ve done for the community.”
Making their second act count Ron, 82, and Elizabeth, 73, who have been married three years, say their first spouses remain with them in spirit. The two met in passing at various Ocala events while serving the community, but they didn’t really get to know one another until a fateful Appleton Museum of Art Director’s Circle party. Ron’s first wife, Phyllis Ewers, was active in the community before she succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. Her work was so prolific that United Way of Marion County named an annual award in her honor. The Ewers family matriarch sat on several Way and the American Heart Association. She also was a member of the group Women of Worth. According to her obituary, she was an avid gardener, formidable bowling opponent, enthusiastic golfer and was always thinking about her and Ron’s next travels. Elizabeth’s first husband, Bob, was a 40-year Marion County resident and USAF Vietnam Veteran who worked as a weapons specialist in Thailand, for which he received a accommodation.PresidentialIncivilian life, he worked as an appliance technician. He retired from GE after earning the International Hall of Fame award three times, an award only given to the top 5 percent of technicians internationally. According to Whitacre-Ewers, Bob was “Mr. Fix-It,” and he didn’t refuse help to anyone. He worked with Elizabeth through the College of Central Florida Foundation, Ocala Civic Theatre and other localTheorganizations.esteemedOcala citizen died in 2017 from complications caused by an illness he contracted during his deployment in Asia: bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) and liver fluke Infection. He wasn’t a smoker or drinker, according to Whitacre-Ewers, and an attempt to get a proper diagnosis of the bile duct cancer took many arduous years. Whitacre was in the advanced stages of his illness when veteran groups began recommending veterans who show symptoms get a CT scan. (Visit globalccaalliance.com to learn more.) Compounding Whitacre-Evers’ grief, she had lost her mother two days before Bob died. While heavy loss is something both Ron and Elizabeth will always carry with them, they are making the most of their time together staying active and maintaining an upbeat carpe diem outlook. They share a home in Stone Creek with a front porch overlooking the golf course. They enjoy slow early mornings, watching the mist over the green and tending to the neighborhood geese, a couple that Whitacre-Ewers refers to as Clem and Clementine, as well as a coterie of ducks and other critters. “I met Ron’s kids in December of 2018 and we got married June 1st the next year,” said WhitacreEwers. “I asked Ron if it was too soon. He said he had known Phyl for six months and that worked out all right. I said, ‘Boy, you do things quick, don’t you?’” She added that she instantly felt she was a part of his family. On her birthday, Christmas Day 2018, Whitacre-Ewers had no family to share it with because her daughter, Andrea, had had pneumonia. “So, Ron invited me to his home, along his son, Randy Ewers, the former mayor of Ocala from 2005-11).”
For Elizabeth WhitacreEwers, the sky is the limit when it comes to honoring her husband’s military service.Shehas spent decades championing causes in Ocala and beyond, and, most recently, has successfully campaigned to have her husband, retired U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Ron L. Ewers, take off on an honor flight to the nation’s capital on Sept. 28. The Villages Honor Flight group, which is affiliated with the national Honor Flight Network, transports U.S. military Veterans to Washington, D.C., to see visit war memorials at no cost to them. Each Villages Honor Flight mission is made up of 65 vets and 65 guardians, and takes into consideration the veteran’s health, service branch, gender, location and other factors. Flights include a medical support team. Everyone except the veterans pays their own way. “I’m a Cold War vet,” Ewers explained when asked where he served.Though he wasn’t on a battlefield, Ewers said he repaired planes in dangerous places, where his commanders ordered soldiers to wear civilian clothes because a uniform could make them a Russian target. He said he worked in the Congo during the country’s independence from Belgium, helping the Congolese safely liberate from the Belgian colonists who oppressed them for more than a half-century. His company, the 317th, embarked on several important missions during the Cold War years in the latter 20th century. “We supported Project Mercury (the first human spaceflight program of the United States, running from 1958 through 1963), and we were down in Nairobi, Kenya, to recover the missiles that didn’t make it into space in Africa,” he said.
A life of service Whitacre-Ewers praised her current husband’s work and service in the community, noting how he moved here from Michigan and co-founded the Ocala-based first-responder vehicle company Emergency One (now listed as E-One), which he ran as president. He later founded Class1, a firetruck parts engineering company.
John Williams, a U.S. Navy veteran who served from 1973 to 1976, salutes.
Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE A3
For more information about the honor flight and mail call, visit villageshonorflight.org.
Ocala philanthropist and military vet Ron Ewers will take an honor flight to Washington, D.C., on Sept. 28. Personal losses and the renewed hope of love led to the culmination of his big trip.
Jerry Arthur, a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1965 to 1967 gets a hug from his wife, Connie.
“Ron had 40 different patents in Washington, D.C., for different things he had invented, and then he would travel to Alaska, Germany, France, to sell fire trucks.” And there are many boards on which Ron has served. I was on the board of trustees for six years at the College of Central Florida,” Ewers said, “along with SunTrust Bank, the Boys and Girls Club and on United Way and for the Gainesville Regional Airport.”
Barbara Hambright of The Villages Honor Flight, center, talks with Elliott Wilkins, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served from 1961 to 1966, left, and Harry Schoepf, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served from 1967 to 1969, right.
Woodland Villages opposition
“We assert that multi-family and single-family do not conflict with one another whatsoever; they are both residential uses,” he said. Roberts cited multiple apartment complexes next to single-family neighborhoods including, “Canterbury Circle, Carrington Lane, Deerwood, Village Square at 36, Windsor Tower, the Oaks, Tuscany Place and the Steeples.” With regard to crime, Roberts cited data from the Ocala Police Department focused on two WaWa stores already operating in the city. He said calls for service were frequently for problems such as abandoned vehicles and alarms going off, not major crimes. Roberts said this 7-Eleven would have similar customers and issues as the WaWa store on SE Maricamp less than two miles away, not the one on Pine Avenue nearer downtown, which services a different clientele. Roberts offered no police report or evidence provided about calls for service at the Diamond Oil across the street from the proposed 7-Eleven. Roberts also said the Florida Department of Transportation has control over Maricamp Road because it is also known as State Road 464. “A lot of the concerns related to Maricamp, we have to look to FDOT,’’ he said, “what they allow, what they require.” “The biggest takeaway here,’’ Roberts said, “is [Woodland Villages residents] do not want a particular project.” He said residents have previously opposed “single-family residential, a bank, a shopping center, an office park, all on these parcels. …These projects are unequivocally compatible.” Mayor Kent Guinn acknowledged the challenges of development in that area of the city and cited the success of Deerwood Village, an office and apartment combined project, near Laurel Wood, which was opposed at the time of its development. It opened in 2006 and, he said, it has worked.Toward the end of the Aug. 16 lengthy discussion, Council Member Jay Musleh stated, “We’ve heard hours and hours of testimony on this for the last year and a half; let’s vote.” The alcohol sales permit request was approved 3-2, with council members Kristen Dreyer, Musleh and Ire Bethea voting yes; James Hilty Sr. and Barry Mansfield voted no.
the Aug. 16 hearing was postmarked Aug. 9 and the Jacksonville post office mark was Aug. 10. The notice itself was not dated. The staff review found that a different hearing notice had been mailed on Aug. 4. The 7-Eleven hearing notice was mailed Aug. 9. Subsequently, Batsel had staff set up the Sept. 6 Anotherrehearing.problemwas that some of the supporting documents for the project contained incorrect information. The map attached to the agenda, for instance, referenced parcel # 21863-000-00, a 17.5-acre tract listed on the Marion County Property Appraiser’s site as belonging to Rural King at 1138 NW 27th Ave. There is a 7-Eleven store on that corner of NW 27th Avenue and Bonnie Heath Boulevard. The parcel number for the proposed 7-Eleven is # 29509-000-27, about 7.8 acres at 2590 SE Maricamp Road. The original alcohol permit for this location also listed the incorrect parcel number. The hearing notice letter sent to residents referenced the incorrect parcel number in one place but had the correct parcel number elsewhere. Additionally, letters of objection from area residents were not initially accessible through the agenda links, which typically open in a PDF format. City staff were able to provide those letters to the Gazette. The agenda attachments also included a printout from the State of Florida’s Division of Corporations, identifying 7-Eleven as the entity requesting the alcohol sales permit.
Acontroversial question of whether a proposed 7-Eleven convenience store in Southeast Ocala can sell alcohol will get a rehearing before Ocala City Council tomorrow because of a technical error: a public notice of the last hearing was sent out to residents too late the first time. After a lengthy meeting on Aug. 16, council members voted 3-2 to approve the company’s request, despite objections from nearby residents worried about increased traffic and alcohol sales near their homes. However, one of the residents at the hearing pointed out a number of problems with the run-up to the hearing, chief among them that the public notice for the Aug. 16 hearing was not sent out in time. City staff reviewed the question and determined that, in fact, the notice was sent tooAlate.new hearing was set for this project on Sept. 6, but defective notices have it rescheduled for Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. Aug. 16 quasi-judicial public hearing At issue is whether the proposed 7-Eleven store at SE 25th Avenue and Maricamp Road should be allowed to sell beer and wine. The request was originally approved in July 2021, but the permit expired after one year because no construction had begun on the site. The Aug. 16 hearing was to renew the permit. The 7-Eleven would be accessible from a proposed roundabout on SE 25th Avenue and Maricamp Road. The site is just east of the Insight Credit Union and across the street from the Woodland Villages communities. The Aug. 16 review was part of a quasi-judicial public hearing that requires the city council to consider substantial evidence shown in the hearing, such as documents or sworn testimony. Attorneys and developers/ applicants cannot give sworn testimony, and council can only consider evidence in a hearing in making their decisions. City attorney Robert Batsel addressed the quasijudicial status of the agenda items early in the Aug. 16 meeting; those speaking would not be formally sworn in, (as happens in other public meetings in Marion County), but they would be required to promise to tell the truth.
By Belea Keeney belea@magnoliamediaco.com
Southland Corporation, however, does not own the property on Maricamp Road; local developer RM Maricamp, LLC owns it. The managers of RM Maricamp, LLC are International Property Services Corp., an entity related to developer John Rudnianyn who has many projects ongoing in Marion County, and who is currently represented by the same attorneys who represent the city for development projects outside the city limits. The second manager of the RM Maricamp, LLC is McBride Management, LLC, located at 1553 SE Fort King St., Ocala;an entity related to developer Raymond McBride.
Other Woodland Villages residents have filed letters of objection, citing concerns about crime, the need for a wall between the community and SE 25th Avenue and pointing out that alcohol is already available for sale nearby at the Diamond Oil store, the WaWa and the Publix store close to SE 36th WoodlandAvenue.Villages resident Michael D’Ambrogi wrote, “These types of establishments have no place in residential or adjoining peaceful residential properties… Would you want this type of growth planning near your residence?”Tropello said, “If everybody looks under their seat right now, you’ll either find a car wash or a 7-Eleven because they’re everywhere. … You don’t need another one, there’s a WaWa down the street.” Michael Sizemore, president of the Woodland Villages Master Board of Directors, wrote to the council, “Thousands of apartment[s] have been approved by the city and county [in this area]; those units have not yet put one car on the road. We have congestion issues now. What happens when that traffic comes?” Records show that area of Maricamp Road has had over 1,000 apartment units approved for construction in recentAttorneymonths.Fred Roberts, representing the 7-Eleven’s developer, rebutted some of the issues raised by Woodland Villages residents, focusing on compatibility with singlefamily, adverse impact with the alcohol and concurrency issues with traffic.
Evidence entered into record includes crime studies, traffic access and lack of timely notice to neighboring residents
Tye Chighizola, Growth Management director for Ocala, stated that a 10-day notice prior to an alcohol hearing was required. “I’m pretty sure she [city staffer] mailed it out on the 4th of August. That’s normally the mailing date.” Batsel told the council that city staff would look into theAdiscrepancy.noticetoaresident obtained by the Gazette for
Brad Tropello, a Woodlands Village resident, introduced numerous emails from area residents who opposed the 7-Eleven project earlier this year. Fewer residents were at this hearing, Tropello said, because the notice of hearing wasn’t sent timely. Tropello entered into evidence a copy of the notice of public hearing for the beer and wine sales request. He pointed out that no date was on notice, as the state requires. He said a city staffer told him it was mailed “last Wednesday,” which would have been Aug. 10, outside the required notice period.
City council must rehear 7-Eleven decision
Tropello said the incompatibility of a 24-hour convenience store and an adjacent residential neighborhood was reason enough to deny the zoning. He presented minutes of a March 2021 city council hearing for a previous 7-Eleven alcohol permit and pointed out that city ordinance # 6-33 says requests for licenses or zoning changes can be denied due to a project’s proximity to residential areas, increased criminal activity due to the alcohol location, the hours of operation, incompatibility, congestion or overcrowding of an area.
Tropello questioned why city staff didn’t advise council at the earlier hearing about the options to deny per city code, and why school board staff didn’t address the school
Tropello also introduced evidence that various city council members at the March 2021 hearing asked five different times if they could deny the proposed 7-Eleven based on the presence of other similar businesses in the area. There is a Diamond Oil convenience store at 2534 SE 17th St. selling Citgo branded gasoline across Maricamp Road from the proposed 7-Eleven. Minutes of that meeting show that Chighizola explained the ordinance to the council, detailing the reasons why a permit could be denied.
“It’s not just the traffic impact that you’re thinking about, which is crazy,’’ he said, “but think about this: Those people are getting alcohol.”
File photo: Motorists drive on Southeast Maricamp Road, east of the intersection of Southeast 25th Avenue, in Ocala on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 where the new 24 hour 7-Eleven is proposed. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
According to that record, 7-11 is owned by Southland Corporation, based in Texas.
Tropello cited concerns about drivers who might try to turn left out of the proposed 7-Eleven to go west on Maricamp Road and showed photos of heavy traffic eastbound and westbound on the busy road. The intersection of State Road 464 (Maricamp) and SE 25th Avenue begins to curve southeast/northwest making lefthand turns against the curve especially dangerous.
Public provided evidence at Aug. 16 meeting Tropello, the Woodland Villages resident, brought other documents to the Aug. 16 hearing. This included crime studies that detailed malt liquor and its proven link to public drinking, disorderly conduct and other crimes. He also noted the property currently violates city ordinance by having over 12 inches of vegetation growth, “the same as last year when they were before you.”
impact of an approved multi-family project directly behind the RM Maricamp, LLC parcel. He suggested council review how city staff provide relevant information and give evidence prior to council decisions and case requests that include details about currently approved and future projects that will impact traffic and school capacity.
SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTEA4
FCUMKNP0423-0822
Thrower speculated that even if the district is able to recruit out-of-field teachers, there is a chance that they may not stay for very long due to their salaries. As per the 2020-2021 school year, the minimum starting salary for a classroom teacher in Marion County Public Schools is $45,000 for a 196day instructional contract, according to MCPS Employment Services. Labor unions and teachers’ advocates are attempting to introduce legislation to combat issues with salaries so that both recruitment and retention rates for teachers may improve. In the previous legislative session, the Florida Education Association (FEA) advocated for teachers to receive fair and competitive pay, earn multiyear contracts and reduce high-stakes standardized testing for educators, according to the FEA. Both Marion County and the state of Florida have had trouble getting teachers to stay in their positions year after year. The current retention rate for educators in MCPS is 85.18%, according to district spokesperson Kevin “The representspercentagethenumber of classroom teachers who were employed on the last day of school, May 27, 2022, and who were also employed on the first student day of school this year, Aug. 10, 2022, with the exception of employees who retired,” said Christian via email. Thrower said she believes opening pathways for paraprofessionals to become certified teachers, just as it has been proposed for veterans and first responders, can help ease a number of “A lot of our paraprofessionals are there all day, every day that the kids are there. Then they might have families of their own and kids of their own,” she said.
Country Oaks Branch - 9680 SW 114th St. • Maricamp Branch - 10 Bahia Ave. Ln.
CHENOWETH SR, 34474 IVANOSKI, EDWIN P 11051 SE 33RD CT OCALA, FL 34480 KAY, STANLEY M 14301 SW 14TH ST OCALA, FL 34481 KYSER, JEANETTE P 12000 SE 108TH TERRACE RD BELLEVIEW, FL 34420 LEEK, TYLER J 2701 NE 10TH ST OCALA, FL 34470 MELENDEZ, PABLO 320 NW 1ST AVE OCALA, FL 34475 MORELAND, JASON C 7833 SW 157TH LN DUNNELLON, FL 34432 SHUMATE, HANS S 23 HEMLOCK RUN OCALA, FL 34472 STOVALL, JUSTIN T 11116 SW 110TH AVE DUNNELLON, FL 34432 TYLER, ZYMIR AM 505 NW 7TH ST OCALA, FL 34475 URUETA, JONATHAN P 3 BAHIA CIRCLE TRL OCALA, FL 34472 WEST, LINDA M 6135 SW 98TH LOOP OCALA, FL 34476 WHISENHUNT, KELLY A 2946 SE 145TH SUMMERFIELD,STFL 34491 WILLIAMS, KARI M 611 NE 20TH ST OCALA, FL 34470 WILLIAMS, MATHEW 15491 NE 239TH PL FORT MC COY, FL 32134
You are hereby notified that your eligibility to vote is in question. You are required to contact the Supervisor of Elections, in Ocala, Florida, no later than thirty (30) days after the date of this publishing. Failure to respond will result in a determination of ineligibility by the Supervisor and your name will be removed from the statewide voter registration system. Wesley Wilcox Marion County Supervisor of Elections 981 NE 16 th Street Ocala, Florida 34470
Company Name Epic Grand Adventures, LLC 6064 SW 82nd Place Ocala, FL 34476 Signed : Tanya Pekrul Dated this 6th day of September 2022 Public Notice column.us/placeocalagazette.
One Forest High School student encouraged her peers to not “follow the pac” by resisting the pressure to vape—and won a contest in the process. Freshman Gabrielle Sumalbag was the winner of this year’s Anti-Vaping T-Shirt and Hashtag Contest, an effort through Fitness and Nutrition in Schools (FANS) to discourage students from using tobacco products, educate them on the dangers of use, and promote healthy lifestyles. “I came up with ‘Don’t follow the pac’ because tobacco and Pac-Man for me sound similar,” Sumalbag said in a video released by Marion County Public Schools. “You don’t need to follow the students who are using tobacco or vape.” Sumalbag said in the video she thought of the idea while sitting in health class during eighth grade. As she and her classmates were brainstorming ideas for the hashtag, she came up with her Pac-Man-inspired idea, that led to a colorful T-shirt with vivid video gameThevisuals.FANS team, facilitated by the Marion County Hospital District, came to Sumalbag’s classroom with balloons and a poster with her winning design to congratulate her in front of her friends and classmates.
*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of 08/12/22. Terms, restrictions and conditions apply. See share certificate agreement for current rates, terms and requirements. Must be funded with money currently not on deposit at Florida Credit Union. Minimum balance to open share certificate varies per certificate with a maximum of $5,000,000. After maturity, if you choose to roll over your CD, you will earn dividends according to the CD agreement or at the then current APY as stated on flcu.org at that time. Limited time offer subject to change at any time without notice. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawals which may reduce earnings. Fees may reduce earnings. Visit flcu.org for membership eligibility requirements. Florida Credit Union – P.O. Box 5549, Gainesville, FL 32627. Insured by NCUA. 352-237-8222flcu.org/cd
Teacher Certification
September 9, 2022 LEGAL NOTICE (F.S. Notice98.075)ishereby given: BOWMAN, DEVIN V 8518 SE 159TH SUMMERFIELD,PLFL 34491 CARPENTER SR, CHRISTOPHER RE 14894 NE 110TH COURT RD FORT MC COY, FL 32134
Kristi Dixon, a FANS health educator, said the student’s design will be used to promote health and wellness throughout the entire school district. “I just thought it was the most creative thing that she had created this Pac-Man that was destroying the vapes rather than eating the ghosts,” said Dixon. “It was very colorful and catchy, and it kind of stood out not only to me but to our the harms of smoking and offer resources to quit Efforts like these to combat vaping among teens are needed now more than ever, as in 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared youth e-cigarette use an epidemic. According to the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey, about 13.4% of high school students and about 4% of middle school students in America reported using some form of tobacco product. “It is very prevalent among our students. It’s not just a Marion County problem; it’s a nationwide problem,” Dixon said. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, the addictive drug found in tobacco products, cigarettes and try to stop and make [students] understand that these products are full of chemicals as well,” Dixon said. “They are causing harm to their brain, their heart and their lungs by using these products.” Dixon said she encourages all parents to visit the CDC website to inform themselves of the dangers their children may be in if they choose to vape, and that one of the best ways to discourage students from these activities is to show them just how negative of an effect that tobacco use can have on their future. “Unfortunately, teenagers live for the here and now,” she said. “We’re just trying to make them understand that the choices that they make today can affect them for their whole lives.”
Student combats vaping epidemic one T-shirt at a time
Photo from Dixon’s Twitter File photo: Eric Cummings on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette] 2022.
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“To embark on the journey to become a teacher is definitely a commitment of time, talent, energy and money.” As for now, the board cannot propose anything concrete. The superintendent will take the board’s discussion into consideration and create a next step of action. If a new policy is created and proposed, it will then go before the board for voting and implementation, Thrower said. “If the state is going to be looking at our military veterans, they have similar experiences and [the state] gives credit for that. Our paraprofessionals would certainly fall into that category, and it could be an even better alignment,” ThrowerThrowersaid.added that it’s time for the school board and the district to develop more creative solutions and that it’s crucial they act to recruit and retain qualified teachers who will uphold the educational standards of Marion schools. “We need to do what’s right for our community because having great schools is just what we need to have,” she said. “That’s nonnegotiable.”
By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the un dersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of Realty ONE Group Epic located at 6064 SW 82nd Place, in the City of Ocala, FL. 34476 in tends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida and/or the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Marion County.
Have a legal ad you need to publish? Go to: value to bringing people into the field of education who have had deep and meaningful experiences outside of education,” Thrower said. “Education is not confined to a school or into a classroom, so I can see the value of that.”
CHAD M 20247 SE 156TH PL UMATILLA, FL 32784 ELLIS, MARY E 3550 S HWY DUNNELLON,41FL 34431 FEBLES, JASMIN A 2901 SW 41ST ST OCALA, FL 34474 FERRARY, KATHLEEN 5415 NW 26TH LN OCALA, FL 34482 FLEENER, MARY E 15681 N HWY 301 CITRA, FL 32113 GAZADER, CHADRICK J 7215 SW 12TH ST OCALA, FL
Ocala Branch - 2424 SW 17th Rd. • Silver Springs Branch - 3504 E Silver Spring Blvd.
Seniors vs. Crime, you will find links on our website.’’ When Seniors vs. Crime first opened in Ocala, the volunteers worked in the OPD Community Affairs office at the Paddock Park Mall. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they moved into the OPD headquarters at 402 S. Pine Ave., Ocala. The project’s website further states, “We are volunteers who help persons who have been scammed or have a problem with a contractor they hired to do work, etc. They do not have to be seniors (to receive help). We try to help everyone.’’ The program’s office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The website section labeled “What We Do” highlights functions of the group, including their primary effort ”to reduce victimization of senior citizens who are targeted for specific crimes or scams based on their age. The project accomplishes this by focusing on three primary objectives: First, by providing education and helpful materials for members of an organization or group through presentations about awareness of various crimes and scams, which can also include investor protection awareness. Secondly, complaints are investigated, and restitution is sought in appropriate instances, all free of charge. Since 2001, the Florida program has overseen 29,000 cases and resolved more than $16 million in real dollars for Florida seniors. Thirdly, the group provides senior volunteers with opportunities to work in a project office to assist other seniors and learn new skills.” Next week, we will address more specific information as to website addresses, how to apply to be a volunteer, valuable tips to avoid scams and frauds, and how you can receive help.
Seniors vs Crime project – Part one of a two-part series
Theadded.Seniors
Last year, Seniors vs. Crime in Ocala reviewed 30 cases, and this year, over 50 cases have already been resolved, with almost $70,000 recovered so far, said Doug Hart, manager of the Seniors vs. Crime local office, located in the Ocala Police Department. About 200 people have been assisted with information so far this year, Hart vs. Crime program began in 1989 by then-Attorney General Bob Butterworth, who conducted a survey of fraud and scams being reported in Florida and brought his findings to the Florida Legislature. The legislators asked then-Gov. Bob Martinez to “be innovative, creative and forceful” in protecting all residents, especially the elderly. The Seniors vs. Crime project was launched to involve seniors in consumer protection efforts. The program continues today under Florida Attorney General AshleyWhatMoody.makes seniors a prime target in fraud and scams? Hart cited several reasons: Seniors grew up in a different era when people were more trustworthy and many deals were made with a handshake. Plus, seniors usually have a “nest egg” or savings for retirement years that scammers can target. Seniors often are less likely to report fraud and they don’t know how to report it, and they may even feel ashamed of having been scammed or don’t even know they have been scammed. Con artists know the effects of age on memory and count on a victim not being able to supply detailed information.Seniorssometimes do not know where to turn when faced with a scammer. Volunteers at Seniors vs. Crime listen to an individual’s complaint and give them information about whether their situation is appropriate for the local program or if it needs to be managed in a criminal court. The organization does not offer legal representation and cannot give help in criminal cases. The website explains: ”Oftentimes, a senior cannot afford an attorney, or it would cost more to litigate a matter than to take the loss—a fact well-known by those who target the elderly for fraud or scams. Then, often, their first course of action is to contact law enforcement, which does not have the authority to assist with civil cases, even if it appears an
you
The Seniors vs. Crime Project recruits Senior Sleuths from the population at large. Sleuths should be at least 50 years of age and be of good moral character, Harden explained. They also must be computer literate and must pass a background check. Donna Guinn, Victim Advocate opportunitiesperuseortosomeoneyouof“Ifexplained,nametelephonewriting,arbitrationspeakers,includingwithforvariedthedepartmentassetareSenior“Theprogram,SeniorsthatliaisonwhowithRepresentativetheOPD,functionsasbetweenagencyandthevs.Crimesaid,volunteerSleuthsavaluabletoourpoliceandcommunity.”“Therearemanyopportunitiesvolunteerstheprogram,publictypists,skills,answeringcalls,toafew,“Hartadding,youareinneedassistanceorifwishtohavespeakyourgroup,ifyouwishtovolunteerwith
There is help for Ocala seniors
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THURSDAY,
ofvolunteersOcalaRomeo?dealerships,extendedcontractor,anhavescammed,beencheated,troublewithunreputableserviceovercharges,warranties,autoorevenanonlineIfso,Seniorsvs.Crimeinisheretohelpyou.TheinthisspecialprojecttheFloridaAttorneyGeneral’s
$1 million since the Ocala office opened in 1990. Statewide, the numbers are much higher.
Office, working with local law enforcement agencies, are getting results for elderly people who have been victimized. It is reported that seniors lose an estimated $3 billion a year to scams and fraud. The highest number of victims are found in California, Florida and Texas. The types of scams are too numerous to count, and they seem to change every day. They can include unnecessary tech support, phony IRS calls, news that you won the lottery (you didn’t), Social Security or Medicare phishing trips, the famous imposter seniorsrecoveredvs.friendmaystrangers,COVID-19andI’mget-me-out-of-jailgrandchildtheatrics,theyournewsweetheartlure,fraudrelatedtohealthcare,oracharity.Usually,thescammersarebutsometimestheyturnouttobeaso-calledorevenafamilymember.In2021,thelocalSeniorsCrimegroupofvolunteers$70,000forOcalawithvariousissues,and
By Eadie Sickler Correspondent Have
individual has blatantly taken advantage of another, and they would like to help a victim. They can be referred to the Senior vs. Crime project, and the victim is not stuck with the stigma and/or embarrassment that might arise in a public civil lawsuit.” Judy Harden, deputy director for Region 4 of Seniors vs. Crime, noted, “Volunteers are the backbone of the Senior vs. Crime Project. We cannot do what we do without them.” She added that the volunteers are more affectionately known as “Senior Sleuths” for their ability to hunt down information to assist in researching and mediating cases the agency receives.
SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTEA6 ALL-IN FOR PEACE WOMEN’S SUMMIT HOSTED BY OLLIN WOMEN INTERNATIONAL
“The alleged fears that OCSB (the Orange County School Board) will, in the future, implement HB 1557 (in grades 4 and above) in a way that deprives these plaintiffs of a constitutional right is speculation at best given that the Department of Education has not yet issued its guidance on how school boards should implement HB 1557 in grades 4 and up,” Orange County attorneys wrote. “In fact, Will Larkins will likely have graduated from high school by the time the Department of Education promulgates the requisite guidance necessary for OCSB’s implementation of the bill in his classroom.” Moody’s office also argued that the law is “neutral and limited.” But the plaintiffs, represented by attorneys from Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Southern Legal Counsel, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the international law firm of Baker McKenzie, said in last week’s motion that the law “impermissibly chills” speech in violation of the First Amendment and is overbroadunconstitutionallyandvague.Thecasehasbeenassigned to U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger, who was named to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump after serving as a state appellate and circuitOpponentsjudge. also have challenged the constitutionality of the law in a separate federal lawsuit filed in Tallahassee against the State Board of Education, the Florida Department of Education, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. and several school boards. That case is pending.
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
State takes aim at privacy clause in abortion fight
The privacy clause has played a crucial role in bolstering abortion rights in Florida since a 1989 Supreme Court ruling. Abortion opponents have long argued that the clause was not meant to protect abortion rights — a position that Moody’s office took in Tuesday’s filing.
Attorneys for a group of parents, students and a non-profit organization filed the lawsuit in July in federal court in Orlando and followed up by requesting a preliminary injunction. The lawsuit was filed against the school boards in the four districts, but Moody’s office last week sought to formally intervene.
The filing said the 1989 decision, in a case known as In re: T.W., was wrong “from the start.” “It ignored that the (constitutional) provision’s plain text says nothing of abortion, that its drafters publicly disavowed guaranteeing abortion rights and that the provision was ratified
SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE A7 State
State school boards fire back on education law
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office said late Tuesday that it thinks the Florida Supreme Court should reverse a decadesold position that a privacy clause in the state Constitution protects abortion rights. Lawyers in Moody’s office addressed the issue in a 44-page document arguing that the Supreme Court should reject an effort by abortion clinics and a doctor to block a new law that prevents abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office and four school boards are fighting an attempt to block a new state law that restricts instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools.Lawyers for the state and the school boards in Orange, Indian River, Duval and Palm Beach counties filed documents Friday urging a federal judge to reject a request for a preliminary injunction against the controversial law. The documents disputed that the law (HB 1557) is unconstitutional and contended that the plaintiffs in the case do not have legal standing to challenge it. Lawyers in Moody’s office said the Legislature has discretion to make choices about school“Schoolscurriculums.canonly teach so much, choices must be made, and the Constitution leaves those choices to the politically accountable branches,” the state’s lawyers argued in a 22-page document. “Plaintiffs do not suggest otherwise. Instead, they seek invalidation of the curricular restriction by distorting it beyond recognition.”
The plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction contended that the law, passed this year by the theRonLegislatureRepublican-controlledandsignedbyGov.DeSantis,“wasenactedwithpurposetodiscriminateand has the effect of discriminating against LGBTQ+ students and those with LGBTQ+ family members.” It alleged violations of speech, equal-protection and dueprocess rights. “HB 1557, by design, deters speech by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people in schools,” the motion said. “To achieve this end, the law employs undefined terms that restrict an absurdly broad scope of speech and activity, casting a broad chilling effect and leaving school officials to draw arbitrary and discriminatory lines in their attempts to implement the law.” The law, which has drawn nationwide attention, prevents instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade and requires that such instruction be “ageappropriate … in accordance with state academic standards” in higherRepublicangrades. lawmakers titled the measure the “Parental Rights in Education” bill. Opponents labeled it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Jen and Matt Cousins, the parents of four children in Orange County schools; Will Larkins, a senior at Orange County’s Winter Park High School who is president of the school’s Queer Student Union; David Dinan and Vik Gongidi, a married same-sex couple who have two children in Indian River County schools; and the non-profit CenterLink, Inc., which has members including LGTBQ community centers in Orange, Duval and Palm Beach counties. The state’s lawyers said in their document filed Friday that the law’s restrictions on instruction in kindergarten through third grade have taken effect. But they said the restrictions in higher grades will not take effect until state standards are approved, a process that might not be done until 2023. That distinction has spurred part of the contention that plaintiffs do not have legal standing. For example, Larkins and two of the children in the Cousins family are in higher grades and, Orange County attorneys contend, are not affected this year by the law.
in response to decisions restricting informational privacy,” said the document, filed by state Solicitor General Henry Whitaker and other lawyers in Moody’s office. “Were this (Supreme) Court to address the meaning of the Privacy Clause here, it should therefore recede from its precedents and clarify that the original meaning of the clause has nothing to say about abortion— and certainly that the Privacy Clause is not so clear as to pry the abortion debate from the hands of voters.” At another point in the document, Moody’s office expressed confidence that the court “is likely to hold that the Privacy Clause of the Florida Constitution does not limit the Legislature from regulating abortion.”
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
Such a ruling would be a seismic legal shift about abortion rights in Florida and would come after the U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. The Florida Supreme Court has become significantly more conservative since Gov. Ron DeSantis took office in early 2019. Three longtime justices who consistently ruled in favor of abortion rights, Justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince, left the court in 2019 because of a mandatory retirement age and were replaced by DeSantis appointees. Another DeSantis appointee, Renatha Francis, joined the sevenmember court last week. Tuesday’s filing by Moody’s office came after attorneys for seven abortion clinics and a doctor, Shelly Hsiao-Ying Tien, went to the Supreme Court to try to block the 15-week abortion limit, which DeSantis signed April 14. The law took effect July 1. The clinics and the doctor filed a lawsuit June 1, and Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper on July 5 issued a temporary injunction against the law, ruling that it violated the Constitution’s privacy clause. The state immediately appealed, which, under legal rules, placed an automatic stay on Cooper’s ruling — keeping the 15-week limit in effect. A panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal rejected a request to vacate the stay and later overturned the temporary injunction. Attorneys for the clinics and the doctor asked the Supreme Court to vacate the stay and to reject the appeals court’s decision on the underlying temporary injunction. The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a one-sentence order denying the plaintiffs’ motion to vacate the stay. It did not explain the decision. The temporaryinjunction case remained pending. The privacy clause in the Constitution has played a key role in the plaintiffs’ arguments to the Supreme Court. “Vacating the stay will ensure that, while proceedings in this (Supreme) Court continue, Floridians will be able to exercise their constitutional right to decide for themselves whether to have a pre-viability abortion or to carry a pregnancy to term — a right that, for decades, this court has repeatedly recognized the Florida Constitution confers,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote in an Aug. 19 motion to vacate the stay. As the Supreme Court considers the temporary-injunction issue, it could base a decision on more-narrow legal grounds than addressing the issue of the privacy clause. The appeals-court panel, for example, ruled that the plaintiffs could not show “irreparable harm” from the 15-week limit and, as a result, were not entitled to a temporary injunction. The plaintiffs’ attorneys have disputed that conclusion at the Supreme Court, while Moody’s office contends the appeals court ruled correctly.
DESANTIS SEEKS TO EXPAND TOLL
fter establishing a six-month program to save certain commuters about $10 a month on tolls, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to expand the program next year. As he campaigns for re-election, DeSantis on Wednesday said he will ask the Legislature in 2023 to give frequent SunPass and E-Pass users a 50 percent monthly credit for a full year. “We’re very fortunate that when you lead the nation in tourism, you know those folks pay taxes and that’s part of the reason we can have such a low tax burden statewide and do a lot of this,” DeSantis said while at the Florida Department of Transportation District 6 headquarters in Miami. DeSantis said the proposal could affect about 750,000 Floridians who frequently commute and save an average commuter about $550 a year. Lost transportation funding would be made up by tapping a surplus of state general revenue.Thesix-month program went into effect Sept. 1. It offers discounts of 20 to 25 percent for trips on many toll roads involving cars, SUVs and pickup trucks when the motorists are in good standing with their SunPass or other Florida transponder accounts. Discounts start to be calculated when motorists hit 40 toll transactions in a month. The program, which is expected to cut state toll collections by $38 million, does not include roads that are part of the Miami-Dade and Central Florida expressway authorities. DeSantis said he hopes to expand the toll roads where motorists would be eligible for discounts.
MEDICAL BOARDS TO CONSIDER TRANSGENDER TREATMENTS
JUDGE CLEARS WAY FOR JUVENILE SOLITARY CONFINEMENT CASE
The lawsuit, filed in 2019, has alleged that the department’s practices violate constitutional prohibitions on cruel and unusual punishment and laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. It includes two plaintiffs, identified by the initials G.H. and R.L. In his order last week, Hinkle wrote that “placement of a child in solitary confinement is not always unconstitutional” but that evidence shows the state’s policies about solitary confinement are not always followed.
Afederal judge has rejected a state attempt to end a lawsuit about the use of solitary confinement in juvenilejustice facilities — but ruled the case will not go forward as a class action.
“The record also includes substantial evidence of substandard conditions, including, for example, testimony that some children were put in dirty cells, some with feces on the wall. The evidence is disputed, and there is no evidence the worst of these conditions were common, but it is evidence that would support a finding that some children have been subjected to unconstitutional conditions.”
SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTEA8 FLORIDA NEWS SERVICE BRIEFS
U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle last week denied a motion by the Department of Juvenile Justice for summary judgment in the long-running lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of solitary confinement for juveniles. But after saying last year that the case could proceed as a class action, Hinkle said he was “decertifying” the class action. “As this case has now evolved, the plaintiffs cannot establish the commonality required for a class action,” Hinkle wrote.
“Determining whether any individual child has been kept in solitary confinement too long, or in unconstitutional conditions, or that a disability has not been accommodated, will require an individual analysis of each child’s treatment.”
“Thus, for example, a practice at one facility is to declare a child’s placement in solitary confinement ended at 24 hours but to immediately put the child back into solitary confinement and restart the clock, circumventing the limits on an extended placement,” he wrote.
Ajoint committee of the Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine is scheduled to meet Sept. 30 to discuss a draft rule that could restrict doctors from providing treatments to transgender people under age 18. The meeting, which will be held in the Betty Easley Conference Center in Tallahassee, will come after the Florida Department of Health in July filed a petition seeking a rule-making process on the contentious issue of treatment for gender dysphoria. The petition proposed what is known as a “standard of care” that would prohibit patients under age 18 from receiving sex-reassignment surgery and puberty-blocking, hormone and hormone “antagonist” treatments. It also would require that older patients sign a consent form and then wait 24 hours before starting such treatments. Notices published Wednesday in the Florida Administrative Register said a joint rules and legislative committee of the Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine “will conduct a rule workshop and meeting to receive and consider presentations from subject matter experts and comments from the public, and to discuss and develop draft rule language related to practice standards for the treatment of gender dysphoria.” The federal government defines gender dysphoria clinically as “significant distress that a person may feel when sex or gender assigned at birth is not the same as their identity.” Treatment for transgender people, and youths in particular, has become a fiercely debated political issue in Florida and other Prominentstates.medical groups and the Biden administration support treatments for gender dysphoria, while many Republicans such as Gov. Ron DeSantis have argued the treatments should not be provided to people under 18.
ADISCOUNTS
A professor, a student and an organization at the University of South Florida have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new state law that restricts the way racerelated concepts can be taught in classrooms — a law Gov. Ron DeSantis dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act.”
By Florida News Service Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet are scheduled to meet in December, capping a year when they held three meetings, according to information posted on the Cabinet website. The total will be the fewest meetings in a year since DeSantis and the current makeup of the Cabinet — Attorney General Ashley Moody, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried — took office in 2019.
SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE A9 The patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment, or to be reimbursed for payment for any other service, examination or treatment which is performed as a result of and within 72 hours of responding to the advertisement for the free discounted fee or reduced fee service, examination or treatment specials available with this coupon only. Not valid with any other offers. DR. JOHN BORCHERS, DDS. PA DR. MICHAEL T. MCKEE, DDS MS.PA. DR. WALTER VANNESS, 352-873-4844DDS 3300 SW 34th Ave., Suite 136 Ocala, FL 34474 Monday-Friday 8am-5pm www.flgentledental.com EMERGENCIES & WALK-INS WELCOME EXAMEMERGENCY&XRAY New Patient Special $1900 00140 CLEANING, X RAYS & EXAM New Patient Special $2900 00220 CROWNS BRIDGEWORKor per unit $69500 Porcelain & Noble Metal, 006242 20%DENTURESOFF Reline or Repairs D5751, D5750, D5761, D5760, D5619 CenterforDentistry 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL 34474 CF is an Equal Opportunity Employer Join the AdjunctTeam–VisualandPerforming Arts Adjunct – Communication – Levy Staff Assistant I – Financial Operations Conference and Food Services Public Safety Officer Plant Operations PART-TIME POSITIONSFULL-TIME POSITIONS Faculty – BAS Accounting Faculty – Emergency Medical Services Faculty Health Sciences – Associate Degree Nursing Staff Assistant I – Instructional Administration –Citrus Trades Specialist – Electrician Trades Specialist – HVAC Trades Technician – Levy Educational Advisor HOW TO APPLY Go to www.cf.edu/jobs Select one of the following online portals Administrative/Faculty/ Adjunct Career Opportunities or Professional/Career/Part-time Career Opportunities. Submit an electronic application, a copy of unofficial transcripts and resume online. A copy of transcripts from an accredited institution must be submitted with the application.
Many private insurers have dropped policies and sought large rate increases because of financial losses, with five carriers deemed insolvent since February.
CRIST INSURANCEDESANTISCRITICIZESONPROPERTY
Professor, student challenge controversial new law
The number of meetings also is below the frequency under previous administrations. Fried, the only Democrat on the Cabinet, has been critical of a lack of meetings.
DeSantis and the Cabinet met March 29 and Aug. 23 and are scheduled to meet Dec. 13. DeSantis, Moody and Patronis also met June 22 in their role as trustees of the State Board of Administration, but that did not include Fried and was not a full Cabinet meeting.
By Florida News Service Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist on Wednesday stepped up criticism of Gov. Ron DeSantis about the state’s troubled propertyinsurance market. “It’s in collapse. You know, we’re in free fall with the property insurance industry in our state, and our citizens are the ones who are suffering as a result of it,” Crist said during a news conference in Jacksonville.
By Jim Saunders Florida News Service
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court in Tallahassee, is at least the fourth challenge to the law, which also includes restrictions on how race-related issues can be addressed in workplace training. A judge last month issued a preliminary injunction against the workplace-training part of the law. In a 91-page complaint, lawyers for USF associate professor of history Adriana Novoa, student Samuel Rechek and the First Amendment Forum at University of South Florida raised a series of arguments that the law violates speech rights. “At public universities and colleges, faculty members’ speech related to scholarship or teaching, or classroom speech related to matters of public concern, is protected by the First Amendment,” the lawsuit said. “Each of the concepts prohibited by the Stop WOKE Act addresses matters of public concern, regardless of whether some find those concepts uncomfortable, unwelcome, disagreeable or offensive.” The lawsuit, filed by attorneys with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and Gainesville attorney Gary Edinger, seeks a ruling that the law is unconstitutional and an injunction. “The speech rights of each of the plaintiffs has been chilled now and will be chilled in the future, as the Stop WOKE Act infringes on their First Amendment rights (and threatens Novoa’s livelihood) if they continue to engage in the kind of expression forbidden by the law,” the lawsuit said. “Unless the actions, policies, and practices of defendants are enjoined by this court, all of the plaintiffs will suffer the continuing loss of their constitutional rights.” DeSantis made passage of the law a priority during this year’s legislative session and signed it in April. DeSantis called the measure the “Stop Wrongs To Our Kids and Employees Act,” or Stop WOKE Act. It lists a series of racerelated concepts and says it would constitute discrimination if students are subjected to instruction that “espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates or compels” them to believe the concepts. As an example, the law labels instruction discriminatory if students are led to believe that they bear “responsibility for, or should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of, actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, national origin or sex.” As another example, the law seeks to prohibit instruction that would cause students to “feel guilt, anguish or other forms of psychological distress because of actions, in which the person played no part, committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, national origin or sex.” When he signed the bill during a ceremony at a Hialeah Gardens charter school, DeSantis stood behind a placard that said “freedom from indoctrination.” The law took effect July 1. “We believe an important component of freedom in the state of Florida is the freedom from having oppressive ideologies imposed upon you without your consent, whether it be in the classroom or whether it be in the workplace. And we decided to do something about it,” DeSantis said at the bill-signing ceremony. The new lawsuit includes as defendants Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., the state university system’s Board of Governors and the USF Board of Trustees. It has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, who was appointed to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump. In addition to arguing that the law violates the First Amendment, the lawsuit alleges violations of dueprocess rights and a state law known as the Campus Free Expression Act. The complaint focuses extensively on how the law would affect Novoa, saying it would force her to remove assigned reading materials and revise lectures. It said the state’s “enactment, implementation and preparations to enforce the Stop WOKE Act have caused and, unless enjoined, will continue to cause irreparable harm to the constitutional rights of Professor“ProfessorNovoa.”Novoa will also be forced to self-censor during debates amongst students, prohibiting her from engaging in the free exchange of ideas that is the hallmark of a successful debate,” the lawsuit said. Two of the other challenges to the law, both filed in federal court in Tallahassee, focus on education. Meanwhile, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a preliminary injunction against the part of the law addressing workplace training, agreeing with three businesses and a consultant that restrictions violate the First Amendment.
Thousands of policies a week have poured into the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp., which was created as an insurer of last resort. DeSantis called a special legislative session in May to try to bolster the market, but problems have continued. Democrats have tried to pin the issue on DeSantis as he runs for re-election in November. “Allow insurance companies to have a profit,” Crist said during the news conference. “Business needs to make a profit, I get that. But we can’t let them gouge our fellow citizens in the process and double their rates in a four-year period.”
DESANTIS, CABINET TO MEET IN DECEMBER
With the development of advanced technologies orthopedic and spine surgery has evolved into an elevated level of precision. Surgeons today utilize a variety of minimally invasive techniques designed to get you back to enjoying your life quickly and living pain free. Join us as we hear from the experts on the latest techniques used in knee, hip, spine, shoulder and hand surgeries all designed to keep you in motion. Orthopedic & Spine Symposium Thursday, October 6, 2022 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Harvey R. Klein Conference Center College of Central Florida 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL Reservations Required Saravanan Karuppiah, MD Neurological Surgeon Christopher Manseau, MD Orthopedic Surgeon Craig Melbourne, MD Orthopedic Surgeon FranciscoFernandes,Schwartz-MD Orthopedic Surgeon FEATURING THE LEADING EXPERTS: Keeping Your Life in Motion ORTHOPEDIC & SPINE SYMPOSIUM 10.06.22 AdventHealthOcala.com/HealthyHappenings352-467-7854 946320336 946320336_AHO Ortho Ocala Gazetter 1/2pg_11.22x10.indd 1 8/17/22 3:37 PM Trusted Experts in Breast Care From screening to survivorship, we’re here for you. Monitoring your breast health is essential. From 3D mammography and genetic testing to an expert multidisciplinary care team, AdventHealth offers the leading methods for early detection and effective intervention. Our healing goes beyond treatment with support groups and survivorship programs, so you can focus on what matters most. 945835796 ScheduleYourMammoToday.com
“I’m an old man in my mind,” he said with a laugh, adding that he loves the salsa and more vintage sounds of Latin America. Growing up, his mother would work as a beautician at home and he followed in her footsteps, becoming a hair stylist, too, and he’s been snipping and trimming for 20 Butyears.hairdos weren’t the extent of his creative talent. His parents noticed his detailed illustrations and encouraged him to get formal training. Their support paid off when he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño in Puerto Rico. “My work has to do with my life processes,” he writes in his artist statement. “As a painter, I am interested in the portrayal of my feelings, introspections, conflicts and the relationship between the Inner World and Outer World.“ He categorizes his works in what he calls collections. Recent collections include “Pandemia,” which were created during the COVID-19 lockdown. He celebrates his heritage and the differences between people.
“Pandemia” Currently on display at the Brick Photo of Ed Perez Perez [Courtesy of the artist]
Perez’s vivid colors and surreal imagery are currently on display at the Marion Cultural Alliance’s Brick City Center for the Arts in downtown Ocala, in the “Arte Hispano!” group exhibition. The exhibition, presented in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, will be on display through Oct. 1. It features art in a wide variety of media by artists who hail from Latin American nations such as Cuba, Colombia and Puerto Rico. “I found out about Ed last year through Amy Alvarado, a fellow Arte Hispano featured artist,” curator Justiniano said. “We are all originally from Puerto Rico, so, naturally we all connected through our culture, passion for art and our native language.” Perez Perez moved to Central Florida from Puerto Rico shortly after Hurricane Maria ravaged his hometown in the northeastern part of the island. His wife, Lina, had close friends in Wesley Chapel, near Tampa, where they and three children stayed before settling down in San Antonio, in Pasco County. “Thankfully, my only loss was missing my home country,” he said of the storm’s damage and aftermath. Perez Perez said he has been creating art since his early days of childhood. He experimented with lines and shapes from a youngSpeakingage. of age, his 43rd birthday is coming up on Sept. 26, but he considers himself a man of another time.
By Julie Garisto julie@magnoliamediaco.com
“Painter Ed Perez Perez has a distinctive way of working abstract figures into a familiar, more natural world filled with color and wonder,” said Ashley Justiniano, gallery director at the Marion Cultural Alliance’s Brick City Center for the Arts. The sharp dresser with a distinctive mustache creates art that’s even more distinctive than his striking appearance.
“That is why I try to challenge the viewers to discover my work on their own, by leaving clues or creating emphasis with all kinds of metaphors or surrealistic characters,” he added. He emphasizes that his work is organic.“Idon’t usually plan my paintings,” he explained. “Although my work is mostly created with oil and acrylic, I am constantly experimenting with different media such as collage, resin and, lately, spray andJustinianopowders.”praised Perez Perez for how he incorporates mixed media as an element of surprise in his paintings, making it a real treat to appreciate his work in person. “His art is vibrant and dynamic, and I am so happy to have him exhibit his work for the first time in Ocala Metro,” she said.
Twice the doublesurname,thetalent
Puerto Rican painter Ed Perez Perez makes his Ocala debut in MCA’s “Arte Hispano!”
“That is why I try to challenge the viewers to discover my work on their own, by leaving clues or creating emphasis with all kinds of metaphors or surrealistic characters.” Ed Perez Perez
To learn more about “Arte Hispano!” and the alliance, go to mcaocala.org
People, Places & Things B1SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE
Shane Kuhn of Ocala rides saddle bronco horse Gray Smoke during the 40th Annual Ocala Shrine Rodeo in Ocala on Saturday September 3, 2022. Miss Florida Rodeo Makayla Baker waves to the crowd.
Shriners International supports Shriners Hospitals for Children, which provide care for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. To learn more about the Ocala Shrine Club and its other activities, go to FB.com/OcalaShriners
Photos By Alan Youngblood Special to the Ocala Gazette
Shriners keep an eye on the crowd.
B2 SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE 40 Years of Fun: Ocala Shrine Rodeo T
Right: The American Flag makes its way around the arena. Below: Cody Miller dives onto a steer. Below: Brad Culpepper ropes a steer in the team roping event.
Jeremy Zajac, center, Christian Vail, 11, and mom Kelly Vail line up for snacks.Paisley Richard, 4, enjoys her new hat.
Dylan Stevens takes a fall off a ranch bronco.
he 40th annual Ocala Shrine Rodeo was a rough and tumble, hooting and hollering good time to support a great cause. The Ocala Shrine Rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. The Sept. 2 and 3 event at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, included bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, steer wrestling and more. Among the special guests was Miss Florida Rodeo, Makayla Baker.
By Eadie Sickler Correspondent
profound
“Heaven’s Bell” has
• Nov 17 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL 34474 CF is an Equal Opportunity Employer Join
Jim and Wendi Moore have become a very active couple in Ocala in the year they have lived here. They enjoy all the amenities the On Top of the World community affords, as well as other parts of Ocala and Florida. Their life story reads like a storybook romance, with some drama mixed in. Wendi lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, where her ancestors migrated from Denmark and Sweden. In her professional career, Wendi was a flight attendant for 16 years with SkyWest Airlines. “That was the most fun job you could ever have,” she said. She traveled the world, her favorite international destination being Ireland. “It truly is the land of the green. Everything is such a vivid green…the grass, trees...I loved the old castles and all the history, Irish singing, and the people are so nice,” she exclaimed. Her favorite American place to visit is Memphis, Tennessee, where she has visited Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland, manyWenditimes.married and divorced. The couple has three children—a son, Cole, 41; and two daughters, Tyree, 39, and Haleigh, 37. They have 10 grandchildren. In the meanwhile, across the country, Jim, who was born in Columbus, Georgia. He spent 20 years in the Army, serving in Turkey, Georgia, Maryland, and Ohio, and then a year in the Florida Army National Guard in Miami. His last tour of duty was during Hurricane Andrew 30 years ago. He has several family members who live in Florida. After his Army career, Jim moved to Texas to help his brother for a time and managed a small hobby store for him. When his mother needed assistance, Jim moved back to Columbus to help care for her. Jim married and has two daughters, Marci, 47, and Betty Jo, 42. He has two grandchildren. He lost his wife to cancer. In Georgia, Jim worked for Columbus State University for 10 years, where he designed classrooms and offices for the university and maintained blueprints of the infrastructure. He was also a locksmith there. It was about three years before his retirement from the university Wendi’s daughter Haleigh had married and moved to Columbus with her husband. While there, Wendi went to visit them one Christmas and went roller-skating with her grandchildren. At the rink, Wendi fell directly on her elbow, crushing it and damaging her shoulder and rotator cuff. She had four surgeries and ended up staying in Georgia for two years during the healing process. Wendi explained she made some friends there and attended the baptism of one of her friend’s adult brothers, not knowing who the brother was. It turned out to be Jim. The friends invited the two to lunch that day, and they “have been together ever since,” Wendi said with a smile. Geography made things difficult for awhile as Wendi had to return to her home in Utah and Jim worked and lived in Georgia. After making a trip to Utah to visit Wendi, Jim invited Wendi to visit his family in Georgia. When she got to the airport, Jim was carrying a huge sign that said, “Wendi, will you marry me?” She immediately accepted, but geography was still an issue. Wendi said she told Jim she would live in Georgia until he retired in three years, and then he was to move to Utah to live there. He readily agreed. On Oct. 10, 2015, the pair married in Panama City, Florida, on the beach. “There just happened to be fireworks there,” Wendi said. “It was like a dream!” After the retirement and Jim moving to Utah, the couple decided they wanted to move to Florida. They have been here for 13 Whymonths.Ocala? The couple thoroughly researched the area and noted its high elevation with the fewer chances of direct hurricane involvement. They love to visit Ormond Beach, and its easy drive there. They are avid kayakers and love all the springs nearby. St. Augustine is a favorite destination. At On Top of the World, they enjoy partner dancing with a group called “Sidekicks,” they play cards and Wendi enjoys water aerobics. They enjoy activities and theater productions at Circle Square Commons. The couple enjoys a timeshare in Orlando and plan to spend Thanksgiving there with some of their family members. They enjoy Sea World. Jim’s hobbies include art in several forms. He enjoys painting, mostly landscapes, with oils, acrylics, watercolors, and pen, and sells some of his works in Georgia and other locations. Additionally, he enjoys photography and working with clay and is part of the Woodworkers group at OTOW. Both participate in the Scandinavian Club at OTOW, Wendi having Danish and Swedish roots and Jim’s ancestors (about seven generations back, he said) came to America as indentured servants from Norway to Virginia prior to the American Revolution. Both Wendi and Jim are active in their faith at the Ocala First Ward Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the fall, they’re planning a sightseeing trip to Savannah, Georgia, and South Carolina. “We have so much fun,” they agree.
Part-Time
B3SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE
of Marion County Since best-seller a impact on readers coping with the Ocala Sherrie Barch the Team Conferences and Food Services Plant Operations Part-Time Public Safety Officer
$30/per person Book signing and presentation by youth counselors from our staff. Sponsored by Angie Lewis Tickets available by calling (352) 291-5143 Your local not-for-profit hospice since 1983 presents Author
1983 Amazon
author at a lunch event: Golden
HOW TO APPLY Go to www.cf.edu/jobs Select one of the following online portals Administrative/Faculty/ Adjunct Career Opportunities or Professional/Career/Part-time Career Opportunities. Submit an electronic application, a copy of unofficial transcripts and resume online. A copy of transcripts from an accredited institution must be submitted with the application. rateIntroducingournewminimumof$15.00perhour.
Hello, Ocala! Meet your neighbors: Jim and Wendi Moore Jim and Wendi Moore at their On Top of the World home in Ocala on Tuesday, Sept.6, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022. “There just happened to be fireworks there. It was like a dream!” Wendi Moore Track NASA’s Artemis 1 mission in real time! Visit go.nasa.gov/3TTS9Ef
loss. Meet
Part-Time
about the American founding father who inspired the hit Broadway musical? Dr.
B4 SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE
will share the intriguing backstory of
Want to know
Jewish roots and hardscrabble upbringing. This talk also will feature a fun
behind
iconic scenes. MONDAY, SEPT. 19, 12:30-1:45 p.m. | College of Central Florida Dassance Fine Arts Auditorium 3001 S.W. College Road, Ocala Seating is limited and doors open at noon. Presented by ROBERT WATSON Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of American History and Avron Fogelman Research Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, Lynn University an equal opportunity college ALEXANDER HAMILTON MAN, MYTH, MUSICAL VISITOCALAGAZETTE.COM/EVENTSOUREVENTSCALENDARONLINE
Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 “squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the same row, column or square. Across1Scrape remnant 5 Get off topic 10 Hurly-burly 13 Natural feeling 14 Sharing word 15 Like the top stripe of a pride flag 16 Analytical diagrams of Tuesday rush hour traffic in Paris? 18 “I’ve heard enough, thanks” 19 Amazed feeling 20 Apt rhyme for “sincerely” 21 Port SSE of Sana’a 22 Sports shoe feature 24 “Hurrah!” 25 Code opener 26 SoCal team 28 One of two tarot card groups 30 Deli favorite with a floral garnish? 34 30-day mo. 36 N.J. town across from northern Manhattan 37 “... __ he drove out of sight”: Moore 38 Rodent that’s a Broadway star? 43 Charm 44 Take advantage of 45 Japanese noodle 46 Leaves for dim sum 49 Easy to pick up 53 Rascals 54 Come in 56 Blintz topping 57 Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy org. 58 Mobile device for the unhip? 60 Swampy spot 61 Get-go 62 “Cupcake Wars” fixture 63 Some replacement sites, for short 64 Greeted wordlessly 65 Forms a union Down1Shrub often toxic 2 Pub __ 3 Feel the same way 4 Board companion 5 Mist 6 Headwear for kid-lit’s Fancy Nancy 7 Comeback 8 In some pain 9 “I’d be glad to” 10 Buyer and seller of oils 11 Conduct 12 Frigga’s husband 14 Notable period 17 Luggage attachment 21 Aqueduct support 23 __ mode 25 Strasbourg-born Dadaist 27 Schedule for later 28 More than competent 29 Tool in the Portland Timbers’ logo 30 Bakery containers 31 Copier tray abbr. 32 Eighth-grade subj, often 33 Modernist 34 Enjoyed a lot, with “up” 35 Chemistry class measurement (it’s 5 for this puzzle’s grid) 39 Book after Joel 40 It may be gross 41 Simona who won Wimbledon in 2019 42 Prefix with Pen 46 Channel for reality show fans 47 Backspace over 48 Broadcast 50 Trees of a kind, often 51 Improved 52 Typical winter highs at the summit of Mt. Washington 53 Facts and figures 54 Teal relative 55 Nov. honoree 58 Barnyard mom 59 Method more Watson Hamilton’s fact-check of history some of the show’s
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE B7
the musical and a closer look at the
Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala Tue-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12-5pm Professor, educator and artist Benson has this exhibition of his photographs at the museum. For more info, appletonmuseum.org for details.
THROUGH DECEMBER 9
A Floral Retrospective by Gregory Dirr Ocala City Hall, Clerk’s Office, 110 SE Watula Ave, Ocala Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Dirr emphasizes environmental conservation in his interdisciplinary artworks. Using paint, multimedia resources, fabric and glass, For more info, visit ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
SEPTEMBER 17 & 18 Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band Marion Technical Institute Auditorium, 1614 E Fort King St, Ocala Saturday 2pm; Sunday 3pm Who’s Your Hero? is the theme of this concert from the all-volunteer band. Honoring first responders, teachers, the military and heroes from the big screen, the music ranges from classical to popular and show tunes. Free and open to all. For more info, kingdomofthesunband.org
SEPTEMBER 12 & 19 Marion County Development Review Committee
children and adults with heart defects, and funds medical research. For more info, heart.org
Office of the County Engineer, 412 SE 25th Ave, Building 1, Ocala 9am Meets weekly on Mondays. Reviews and votes on waiver requests to the Land Development Code, major site plans, and subdivision plans.
Quail Roost Arena, 4246 W Highway 318, Citra 8am-1pm This nonprofit serves special needs riders who benefit from the healing power of horses. Volunteers help with horse and barn care, side walking, horse handling and more. Returning volunteers start at 8am; new volunteer orientation at 10am. Get a volunteer application at stirrupsnstrides.com
SEPTEMBER 13 City of Belleview Planning and Zoning Board City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd, Belleview 5:30-6:30pm
SEPTEMBER 15
SEPTEMBER 10 & 17
SEPTEMBER 10 & 17
SEPTEMBER 10 Marion County Heart Walk 2022 Citizens’ Circle, 151 SE Osceola Ave, Ocala Check-in 7:30am, race starts at 8am The race/walk benefits the American Heart Association and helps fund CPR training, helps
Ocala Farmers Market Ocala Downtown Market, 310 SE Third St, Ocala 9am-2pm A variety of vendors offer local fruits and vegetables, meats and seafood, fresh pasta, honey, jewelry, baked goodies, and arts and crafts. Food trucks and entertainment. Rain or shine; recurs every Saturday. Visit ocaladowntownmarket.com for more information.
B5SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER 10 & 17
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 18 Hands on a Hardbody
Yoga in the Park Sholom Park, 7110 SW 80th Ave, Ocala 9am Stretch out by the Sholom Park stage; recurs every Saturday morning. Visit sholompark.org for details.
Julijana Prest Art Exhibit
Invented PhotographsObservations:bySteven Benson
THROUGH JANUARY 2023
Summer Sunset Polo Florida Horse Park, 11008 South Highway 475, Ocala 6pm Tailgate next to the polo field and enjoy a unique evening out. Saturday evenings through September. Free to the public. For more info, ocalapolo.com SEPTEMBER 9-11 Summer’s End Horse Show World Equestrian Center Ocala, Arena 3, 1390 NW 80th Ave, Ocala 9am-10pm A multi-breed show featuring Morgans, Saddlebreds and all breeds competing in a variety of classes including dressage, dressage, hunter and pony. Free to spectators. For details, visit worldequestriancenter.com
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30
German/American Social Club of West Central Florida Columbus Hall, 2389 West Norvell Bryant Highway, Lecanto 4pm Folks with or interested in German heritage are invited to meetings the second Monday of each month. The club puts on seasonal dances, a fall festival and more throughout the year. Call Sigi Strak at (352) 854-9616.
SEPTEMBER 9 Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research Shop Talk College of Central Florida, Ewers Century Center, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala 11am-1pm This free luncheon will feature the latest grant recipients discussing their research. Registration required; call 352-854-2322 ext. 1655 for reservations.
SEPTEMBER 17-18 Ocala ComicCon World Equestrian Center Ocala, Expo Center 1, 1390 NW 80th Ave, Ocala 10am-6pm Celebrating all things comic books, cosplaying, gaming, creating, panels and with some special guests, like Ross Marquand from The Walking Dead and Sean Young from Blade Runner fame. Children under age 10 attend for free; tickets start at $20 for a single day pass. For more info, check out ocalacomiccon.com
Journey to My Soul: Landscape of My Mind by Kelley Batson-Howard City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Administration Building, 828 NE Eighth Ave, Ocala Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm This free art exhibits showcases the work of artist Batson-Howard, who creates abstract works to bring beauty to the world. For more info, Kbatsonart.com
Colorful Pleasures by Christine Dozier Ocala International Airport, 5770 SW 60th Ave, Ocala Hours vary per airport operations Dozier exhibits a variety of work including landscapes, abstracts, still life and animal portraits. She works in oils and acrylics. For more info, visit ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave, Ocala Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm This Florida-based visual artist’s “Transitional Moments in Nature’s Landscape” is hosted by the City of Ocala as part of its Art in City Spaces program. For more info, www.ocalafl.org/artincityspaces
government
Ocala September Dressage CDI 3* World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave, Ocala 8am-5pm This international competition with world-class horses and riders includes rigorous tests and highlevel movements. Free to spectators. For details, visit worldequestriancenter.com
SEPTEMBER 9 Movies in the Park: “The Karate Kid” Tuscawilla Park, 829 NE Sanchez Ave, Ocala 8pm Bring the family for this free movie event. Concessions with snacks, popcorn and soda; bring your own chair or blankets. No registration required; see ocalafl.org/recpark for more info.
Arnette House Regatta Boat Race Carney Island Recreation Park, 13275 SE 115th Street, Ocklawaha 6am-11:30am A home-made and human-powered boat race to benefit Arnette House takes place at Big Lake Weir, along with on-land vendor booths, food, music, games and homemade boats. More info at arnettehouse.org
City Hall, 110 SE Watula Avenue, Ocala 5:30pm SEPTEMBER 13 City of Ocala Special Meeting City Hall, 110 SE Watula Avenue, Ocala 5pm This special meeting is to discuss the fire assessment resolution.
SEPTEMBER 17 Stirrups ‘n Strides Therapeutic Riding Center Volunteer Orientation
Flamenco Trio Concert Appleton Museum of Art, 4333 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala 6pm-8pm The Maharajah Flamenco Trio will perform a concert that includes the world premiere of their new song, “Listen to the Sea.” Tickets are $30. See appletonmuseum.org for more info.
Farmers Swap Meet Rural King, 2999 NW 10th St, Ocala 9am-2pm Chickens, goats, turkeys, rabbits and sometimes even ponies are available, along with horse tack, home-grown plants, produce and hand-crafted items. Booth types vary with occasional meat vendors, food trucks and other goods. Saturdays, weather permitting.
SEPTEMBER 9 & 16
SEPTEMBER 10 & 17
SEPTEMBER 14 City of Belleview Site Plan Committee Meeting City Hall, 5343 SE Abshier Blvd, Belleview 9am-10am SEPTEMBER 17 City of Ocala Town Hall Meeting E.D. Croskey Recreation Center, 1510 NW Fourth St, Ocala 10am-11am The City of Ocala Recreations and Parks Department hosts this special meeting for the public to learn more about the Rec and Parks offerings. Ocala residents are encouraged to ask questions and offer feedback on current programs. For more info, ocalafl.org/recpark
SEPTEMBER 10 Festivals of Speed World Equestrian Center Ocala, Expo Center 2, 1390 NW 80th Ave, Ocala 10am-4pm For a different kind of horsepower, check out this exotic car show. More than 200 cars are on display with chances to test drive some, enter a radiocontrolled car race and more. Tickets are $20-$50. For details, visit worldequestriancenter.com
SEPTEMBER 10
SEPTEMBER 10 5th Annual Ocala Recovery Festival Tuscawilla Park, 800 NE Sanchez Ave, Ocala 10am-2pm This celebration of National Recovery Month benefits the Marion County Children’s Alliance and will offer live music from Mike Smithson, a free T-shirt and lunch, a Memory Wall to honor loved ones lost to addiction and guest speakers. Kids’ activities include face painting, pony rides, vendors and balloon artists. For more info, www. mcchildrensalliance.org
SEPTEMBER 12
arts
SEPTEMBER 20 Marion County Board of County Commissioners Meeting McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala 9am Meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.
SEPTEMBER 10 Elvis Tribute: Cote Deonath Dunellon Depot, 12061 S Williams St, Dunnellon 6pm-8pm World champion tribute artist features the music and feel of Presley’s greatest hits in his heyday. This benefit concert supports restoration efforts by the Dunnellon Historical Society. Tickets are $25-$35. See dunnellondepot.com for more info.
SEPTEMBER 15-18
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 13
Ocala Civic Theatre, 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala Showtimes vary, check website This lively country-pop musical features an endurance contest in Texas to win a pick-up truck and the stories of contestants told in song and dance. Tickets are $15 for ages 18 and younger; $30 for adults. See ocalacivictheatre.com for more info.
SEPTEMBER 20 Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala 2pm Meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month the afternoon of the morning BOCC meetings.
Marion County Friday Market McPherson Governmental Campus Field, 601 SE 25th Ave, Ocala 9am-2pm Shop locally fresh fruits and veggies, baked goods, jerky, freeze-dried treats, olive oils, seafood and more; recurs every Friday.
SEPTEMBER 12 City of Dunnellon City Council Meeting City Hall, 20750 River Drive, Dunnellon 5:30pm SEPTEMBER 12 City of Ocala Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
LOCAL CALENDAR LISTINGS community
SEPTEMBER 10 City of Ocala Waste Amnesty Day NE 14th Street and NE Eighth Avenue, Ocala 8am-1pm This event helps keep dangerous substances out of landfills. Items accepted include lawn and garden chemicals, paints, oil and filters, auto batteries, computers, keyboards, monitors, stereos and televisions, and cell phones. For more info, call 352-351-6697.
THROUGH NOVEMBER 6
SEPTEMBER 9 Stava Mala Homestead Park 1050 NE 6th Blvd, Williston 6-9pm Live music, line dancing, food and drink.
Second Slice Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala 7pm SEPTEMBER 17
Stan Brown Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala 7pm SEPTEMBER 17 Miguel Miranda Homestead Park 1050 NE 6th Blvd, Williston 6-9pm SEPTEMBER 18
B6 SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE &
Uptown Music
SEPTEMBER 9 Humans in Disguise Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala 7pm Live music. Also, karaoke Wed.-Sat.
nightlife
SEPTEMBER 9 Tipsy Sparrows
Cam Wheaton Homestead Park 1050 NE 6th Blvd, Williston 6-9pm SEPTEMBER 16
Big Bad Duo
music
SEPTEMBER 10
The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave, Ocala 6-9pm SEPTEMBER 17
Grass Campers
Doug Adams Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala 2pm
The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave, Ocala 6-9pm Dinner, drinks, and entertainment. For details, visit worldequestriancenter.com
Parrot Heads Charlie Horse, 2426 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala 6pm SEPTEMBER 15 Palomino Blonde The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave, Ocala 6-9pm SEPTEMBER 15 Houston Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala 6pm SEPTEMBER 16
The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave, Ocala 6-9pm SEPTEMBER 10 West 27 Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala 7pm SEPTEMBER 10 Rick Ryan Homestead Park 1050 NE 6th Blvd, Williston 6-9pm SEPTEMBER 11 Doug Adams Charlie Horse 2426 E. Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala 2pm SEPTEMBER 14 Cliff Dorsey
The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave, Ocala 6-9pm SEPTEMBER 14
The Yellow Pony World Equestrian Center Ocala, 1390 NW 80th Ave, Ocala 6-9pm SEPTEMBER 16
B7SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE Sports ANSWERS FOR PAGE B4 Sudoku CrosswordJumble NOODLEINVITESKIMPICING You can buy shares of IBM because the exchange has plenty -- IN STOCK
Daniel McLeod knew from an early age that sports can be an avenue that gives people opportunities to see the world and forge their own path in life. The Miami native began playing football and baseball as a child, but football quickly became his favorite sport. “Football was the first sport I fell in love with,’’ he said. “My uncle was a coach and my cousin played youth football, it was just a sport we naturally gravitated to.” McLeod, 37, grew up in a single-parent household and had to learn how to deal with hardships at an early age. But he credits his mother for taking care of him and being a role model to follow. Football over everything else taught him many life lessons that he carries to this day, he said.
By Allen Barney Allen@ocalagazette.com
“I got blessed with the opportunity to coach and stay in the game,’’ he said. “I started coaching (football) with my uncle and the more I got into it, the more I realized I had a knack for it and started to make way with the kids, and that’s when coaching took over my life.” McLeod began his coaching career in 2004 at an alternative school in Miami and stuck around until 2009 before moving to the Tampa Bay area to be the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Gaither High School. In 2010, McLeod earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Columbia Southern University. After Gaither, McLeod worked as an assistant at Waldorf University in Iowa and later as offensive coordinator at Pasco High School. McLeod landed his first head coaching job at Gulf High School in Pasco County, a position he held for a year before moving on to be the head coach and assistant athletic director at World of Knowledge in Pasco County. The private school closed during its first year of athletics, and McLeod was faced with adversity once Fortunately,again.during the process of notifying other schools within the Sunshine State Athletic Conference of the impending closing, McLeod was told of an open head coach position at St. John Lutheran School in Ocala. He was hired as athletic director and head football coach in April, and he’s ecstatic about a fresh start in a new town. “It’s been a great transition. I love the people here and their support is amazing,’’ he said. “The program has so much history and the athletics have been around forever. They had a great athletic director prior to me and once they offered me the position, we started talking about taking it to the next McLeodlevel.”was put into go mode as soon as he was hired; he had six days of practice to prepare his new team for a spring scrimmage against Ocala Christian Academy. McLeod immediately saw the enthusiasm of his players. “From the first day, they bought in to what we’re trying to build and what I want to build as my vision for the program,” he Hesaid.added, “The kids are great, and I noticed right away that they were willing to work hard and listen, they just needed structure. They needed the discipline and details of the game, and we laid the foundation during those first six days. We have continued to build on that over the summer, and it’s paying off right now.”
Daniel McLeod, the new football coach at St. John Lutheran School, on the field at Meadowbrook Academy in Ocala on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
“Football is one of the greatest teachers in life. It teaches you how to handle adversity and teaches you how to be a stand-up person. The thing I loved about it is that it taught me to pay attention to the details of life,” he McLeodsaid.went on to play football, baseball and bowling at Miami Carol City Senior High School, one of the powerhouse high school football programs in south Florida. After graduating from high school in 2003, he enrolled at Tuskegee University in Alabama to play football and baseball. Unfortunately, during his freshman season, McLeod’s mother passed away and he had to step away from everything to come back home and take care of his Thefamily.traumatic event was lifechanging, but it may have been a blessing in disguise for McLeod because he said it opened new doors and opportunities for his life.
“It’s been a great transition. I love the people here and their support is amazing. The program has so much history and the athletics have been around forever.”
ST. JOHN LUTHERAN SCHOOL GETS A NEW HEAD COACH.
Daniel McLeod
The vision for an athletic program can be murky at times for any coach, but McLeod was clear with his intentions. “We just believe in hard work, dedication and attention to details. Our school shield has four edges, we label those as foundation, culture, pride and passion. As we’ve been working throughout the spring and summer, we worked on discipline and quality work ethic. That has gotten us to where we are now, starting to understand the details and taking pride in the culture,” he said.McLeod has two daughters, Keimari and Gia, who attend St. John’s middle and elementary schools. Keimari is on the middle school volleyball team and Gia is into gymnastics. His daughters being involved and enjoying sports brings a smile to his face. “It does my heart well; it brings me a lot of joy,’’ he said. “It’s what my mom and me did, we both played sports and that’s what we’re about. It’s just nice to see the kids following in your footsteps.”Anycoach at the youth or high school level can be a lifelong mentor for those under their tutelage. McLeod said he wants to leave a lasting impact that teaches his players to be good people on and off the field. “We can say we were the greatest football players and greatest student-athletes, but at the end of the day, I just want them to become great men. Your tombstone at the end of the day should read ‘a great man,’ meaning you did everything the right way, you were a productive citizen in the community and you did everything the way you were supposed to do with discipline, structure and attention to detail.”
Meet Coach Daniel McLeod
The Rattlers are off to a 2-0 start for the second year in a row but a tough string of games against county rivals (North Marion, Forest, Vanguard and Dunnellon) come over the next five weeks and Lane is aware that his team has to stay focused and continue to improve. “These are very formidable opponents coming up. Monday is Labor Day, but I talked to some of my seniors this week and several of them said they remember when North Marion beat us 84-0 a couple years ago. They have a chip on their shoulders for that and they told me we better be practicing on Monday,” he said. He added, “They know that we got to put work in, and they know that as a program, that if we want to get back to where we were in the past, the road goes through them (North Marion).”
T
“Crystal River was one of the three teams that beat us last year and some of the guys were offended by the outcome,” he said.
Trinity Catholic’s Elayna Johnson (98) spikes the ball past Buchholz’ Emmy Rowland (16) during a match at Trinity Catholic High School in Ocala on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022.
B8 SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE
Belleview High School Rattlers wide receiver Hunter Schaller (15) gets stopped. [Alan Youngblood/ Special to the Ocala Gazette]
After competing in the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions in Tampa over the weekend, the Trinity Catholic volleyball team was determined not to have a letdown in Tuesday night’s match against Buchholz. Trinity Catholic accomplished that goal in a workmanlike manner with a 25-17, 25-11, 25-17 sweep of Buchholz (Gainesville). The win improved the Class 3A Celtics to 7-3 on the“Itseason.wasa solid performance coming off a really long weekend,” said Trinity Catholic coach Jeff Reavis. “We went 4-2 in the tournament and won our pool the first day. We really had a moment in that tournament where it was fragile and we could have gone two ways. We could pack it in and say this hard or we get better. We really took a big step as a group, battled and had a great finish. We were mentally engaged tonight and I thought we did a good job againstWithBuchholz.”theloss,the Class 6A Bobcats dropped to 6-5 overall. The first set was tied at 6 all before Trinity Catholic went on a 13-5 run sparked by senior outside hitter Kiana Laborde, who had several kill shots and showed great touch with a pair of dink shots. Trinity Catholic kept the pressure on with its talented front line scoring points, as senior Amelia Fitzpatrick
Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
Belleview High School Rattlers center Montavis Lightsey (12) and Belleview High School Rattlers Kareem Walker (9) puts pressure on Crystal River quarterback Jesse Paul (12) and breaks up the extra point as Crystal River travels to the Belleview High School Rattlers Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]
Trinity Catholic’s Elayna Johnson (98) and Kiana Laborde (13) jump to block a spike from Buchholz’ Brooke Hankerson (2).
Trinity Catholic’s Kiana Laborde (13) spikes the ball past Buchholz’ Emmy Rowland (16). and junior Elayna Johnson took turns drilling spikes past Buchholz runBuchholzdefenders.madeatoclosewithin 24-17, but a Bobcats service error gave the first set to the Celtics. Trinity Catholic jumped out to an 18-8 lead in the second set with Laborde, Johnson and Fitzpatrick leading the way with numerous killBuchholzshots. took a time out and tried to rally behind the solid net play of junior middle hitter Jordan Czaplewski, who had three of her team-high nine kills. That wasn’t near enough against a deep and talented Trinity Catholic squad, which ran off several points. A pair of Laborde spikes and a Buchholz error put the Celtics up two sets to none. Buchholz played its best in the third set and took a 7-3 lead as Czaplewski and junior outside hitter Emmy Rowland found open spaces in the Trinity CatholicTrinitydefense.Catholic regrouped and fought back to tie the score at 15, as Fitzpatrick, junior outside hitter Avery Campise and junior middle hitter Hope Willis found the range with powerful killTheshots.Celtics extended their lead to 17-15 before Buchholz called a time out. The brief respite didn’t help as Trinity Catholic senior Megan Kusmierz had a pair of service winners and senior Emily Hirst and Johnson teamed up for back-to-back blocks.Junior Cole Crews had a service ace and Hirst and Johnson combined for a block of a spike by Czaplewski to seal the set and match for the Celtics.“We have a lot of pieces and that forces teams to make tough choices,” coach Reavis said. “We have a lot of people who can do a lot of things and we’re just grinding right now and working to improve.” Trinity Catholic is back in action on Sept. 15th with a home match against Clearwater Central CentralCatholic.“ClearwaterCatholic is a good team and is kind of the hot team in our division that everyone is talking about,” coach Reavis said. “I haven’t seen them yet, but we’ve got some video of them and it should be a good match.”
Junior running back Eric McLaughlin took advantage of the muddy, wet conditions and his strong offensive line and ran for more than 150 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown came halfway through the first quarter and after the Pirates answered with a score of their own, McLaughlin put the Rattlers ahead for good with just over a minute left in the first half.
“Going into the game tonight, we wanted to establish the run. Our backs were a little bit upset about their performance from last week,” Lane said. He added, “They took it upon themselves to put us on their back and go to work.”
The defense did their part to shut down the Pirates offense and the group’s effort gained the praise of their head coach.
Crystal River Shwantez Simmons (2) catches a pass under pressure from Belleview High School Rattlers Ernest Flythe (2). [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]
Trinity Catholic defeats Buchholz in straight sets
By Mark Pinson Special to Ocala Gazette
Junior kicker Aiden Kaczmarski would put the game out of reach with a 20-yard field goal with about four minutes left to go to give the Rattlers a 16-6 win. Kaczmarski also had four touchbacks on kickoffs and an extra point to go with his field goal.
Belleview visits the Colts next Friday at 7 p.m.
Crystal River vs Belleview Recap
The rain came early and often throughout the day as nearly four inches of rain came down but that played right into a strength for Lane’s team. The offensive line received a big boost by having junior center Hunter Root back in the starting lineup.
he Rattlers were back at home for the second week in a row, this time hosting the Crystal River Pirates at The Strike Zone at Brent Hall Field on Friday night. According to Rattlers head coach Brian Lane, his team was out for revenge after losing this matchup last season and the team was conscious of that heading into game.
“It’s been awesome for us to be able to kind of rely on them and know that they’re going to get the job done. They’re very resilient and we have put them in bad situations where the offense hasn’t been able to push it in or we get behind the chains. They bow their back and hold tough, very proud of our defense right now,” Lane said.
By Allen Barney allen@ocalagazette.com
The Tigers got off to a good start on the following drive with Francois running for 20 yards on first down, but the drive would stall after a lateral pass pushed them back six yards and Samuel would nab his second interception of the game. Cussins and the offense drove 77 yards in four plays, 52 of yardsthosecame on a reception by wide ballonCalebreceiverRollersonajumpdownthe left sideline. The overwithaheadtotouchdownonDaltonwidewithwouldquarterbackColtsconnectseniorreceiverMerrittan8-yardpassputtheColts28-0alittleaminute left before halftime. Carr and the team dedicated the win to Merritt and his family after the recent loss of a family member. The Tigers defense forced a punt to start the second half and the Colts defense would answer with back-to-back sacks from senior defensive lineman Arkese Heath. The Colts blocked the punt attempt, which gave the offense the ball at the Dunnellon 5-yard line. Johnson would punch it in for his third touchdown of the night to make it 35-0 and start the running clock with five minutes left in the third
North Marion cruises past Lake Weir in volleyball North Marion vs Dunnellon Recap
Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette North Marion’s quarterback Aj Cussins (14) looks for an open receiver as he is chased by Dunnellon’s Dylan Donahoe (5)
By Allen Barney allen@ocalagazette.com
North Marion’s R’Jayvious Johnson (6) breaks away as he scores a touchdown on Dunnellon.
Sutton is optimistic that Friday night could be a good learning experience for his young team as they still have eight games left to go on the season. “Our youth and inexperience showed, if they take this and learn from it, grow from it, then it could be a good thing for us in the long run,” he said. As for Coach Carr, his goal is to keep his team on the right track and not get complacent after a couple wins to start the“Continuingseason. to grow and continue to get better, taking it week by week. We have to continue to improve and not be satisfied, we want to improve from week to week,” he said. The Colts will look to move to 3-0 as they host Belleview next Friday at 7 p.m, the Rattlers are also 2-0 on the season. For the Tigers, they will look to bounce back as Vanguard comes to town next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
B9SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE
Photos By Bruce Ackerman Ocala Gazette
North Marion’s Jasmine Burkey (15) sets the ball against Lake Weir during a volleyball match at North Marion High School in Citra on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.
North Marion utilized its height advantage and athleticism to ease past Lake Weir by scores of 25-12, 25-17 and 25-17 on Thursday night. The win improved Class 4A North Marion to 3-1 on the season. “It was a good match and all the girls got a chance to play and improve,” said Colts coach Richard Guerrero. “The girls played hard and it’s always good to see them working together as a team and clicking on all cylinders. We have some veterans on the team and some youth and the girls help and support each other. They don’t care who’s playing, they just want to getThebetter.”lossdropped a very young Class 4A Lake Weir squad, which has only one senior, to 0-4 overall. “I have a very young team,” said Hurricanes coach Jenna Dupleffis. “I have one senior and the rest are freshmen, sophomores and a couple of juniors. Our serve-receive was a little bit of a struggle, but North Marion has some really good servers. The girls are working hard to improve and I’m really proud of outMarionthem.”Northcamestrongin the first set and jumped out to a 13-5 lead as Jadair Montoya had two of her team-high six kills to go with a pair of service aces.Lake Weir battled back as KinghitterseniorserviceupAdamesMckenzeefreshmanservedback-to-backacesandoutsideSannadrilledtwo of her team-high five kills. North Marion continued to dominate the action at the net as senior outside hitter Jasmine Burkey found holes in the Lake Weir defense with well-placed kill shots. A block by Nehemiya Smith and a spike by Brooke McConnell sealed the first set win for the Colts. Lake Weir came out focused for the second set and took an early 3-0 lead as Izabella Pinkerton scored with a couple of well-placed shots. The teams battled on even terms from there as the score was tied at 11 before North Marion steadily pulled away as Montoya had two kills and a serve ace, and Lainee Hall added a pair of kill shots to give the Colts a 23-16 lead. Lake Weir committed a net violation and Monotya drilled a cross-court kill shot to put the Colts up The2-0. second set loss seemed to delate Lake Weir and North Marion took full advantage in the final set by storming out to a 13-2 lead sparked by McConnell, who had
It was an early-season matchup between two Marion County football powerhouses on Friday night at Ned Love Field in Dunnellon as the Tigers hosted the North Marion Colts. In front of a packed stadium, both teams were looking to move to 2-0 on the young season. The game got off to a sluggish start as both teams traded punts for each of their first two drives on offense. With just under a minute left to play in the first quarter, Dunnellon running back Amari Francois lost a fumble and Junior defensive end Kameron Swinton scooped it up and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to give the Colts a 7-0 lead. Colts head coach Greg Carr was happy to see the defense score for the second week in a row and knows that it will be key to keep that trend going, especially when the offense gets off to a slow start. “We are focused on creating turnovers and putting points up on the board (on defense). It was one of them nights where the offense got motivated from that first defensive touchdown,” Carr said. The scoop and score opened the flood gates for the Colts as senior defensive back Jabrel Samuel intercepted Dunnellon quarterback Dylan Curry on the third play of the following drive. On the next play, senior running back R’Jayvious ‘JJ’ Johnson took a carry outside and dashed down the left sideline for a 25-yard touchdown run and extend the Colts lead to 13-0. Dunnellon gained a little momentum on the ensuing drive with a couple of 7-yard runs from Francois to gain there first first down of the game. The drive would end in a punt and the Colts would drive 65 yards on nine plays and ended with a 5-yard touchdown run for Johnson. A 15-yard penalty for a late hit on quarterback A.J. Cussins and a 24-yard reception by wide receiver Chris Foster were the biggest moments of the drive that led to the touchdown. Johnson was on a mission after a couple of fumbles against Forest last week. “My line was blocking, I was seeing the holes, pressing it and just doing my assignments. Last week, losing two fumbles, I came in with a chip on my shoulder,” he said. He added, “Coach Collins mainly focused on me holding on to the ball in practice this week. Things happened and my line gave me great blocks.”
North Marion’s Lainee Hall (1) spikes the ball past Lake Weir’s Mckenzee Adames (4) and Kaylee Mason (13). two of her team-high five aces, and Kendall McCubbin, who had three of her team-high six Lakekills. Weir refused to fold and rallied as Kyra Rigozzi sparked a nice run with excellent serving and King added several winners to pull the Hurricanes within 20-15. Several long rallies ended up going to North Marion and McCubbin and Smith combined for a block to put the Colts on match point. Another long rally ensued before Molly Barlow’s perfectly placed shot found the floor to give the set and match to the“IColts.just want the girls to get better every day,” coach Guerrero said. “That’s always my expectation and as long as we’re better today than we were yesterday, I’m happy.” North Marion is back in action on Tuesday night with an away match against Forest.Lake Weir, which will host Dunnellon on Tuesday night, will continue to concentrate on the fundamentals. The Hurricanes will no doubt continue to improve with each match they play. “The girls are amazing and I’m very proud of them,” coach Dupleffis said. “They are young, but they’re very coachable and they really want to improve.”
North Marion’s Caleb Rollerson (8) breaks up a pass intended for Dunnellon’s Sean Martin (17) during a game at Dunnellon High School on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.
By Mark Pinson Special to Ocala Gazette
North Marion players celebrate a point over Lake Weir.
Thequarter.remainder of the game featured a handful of punts and an interception from Tigers freshman cornerback Amari Jones. Overall, it was not the best of nights for Tigers head coach Thomas Sutton and his squad, but he is confident his team will be ready to get back to work on “IMonday.expect them to respond, we have some leaders that are just kind of dipping their toe in the water to begin stepping up and leading. We’re going to need that to be more consistent,” he said.
North Marion’s quarterback Aj Cussins (14) looks for an open receiver as he is chased by Dunnellon’s Jayvyn Fraziars (12) during a football game at Dunnellon High School on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
Belleview High School Rattlers running back Eric McLaughlin (11) gets pressure from Crystal River Reese Reed (78) as Crystal River travels to the Belleview High School Rattlers Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]
Dunnellon’s quarterback Dylan Curry (15) eludes North Marion defenders during a football game at Dunnellon High School on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/ Ocala Gazette] 2022.
North Marion’s Kendall McCubbin (7) blocks a spike from Lake Weir’s Karanis Lebron (8) during a volleyball match at North Marion High School in Citra on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
Crystal River quarterback Jesse Paul (12) gets sacked by by Belleview High School Rattlers Brandon Freitag (58) as Crystal River travels to the Belleview High School Rattlers Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]
Belleview High School Rattlers center Montavis Lightsey (12) puts pressure on Crystal River Luke Witty (32) as Crystal River travels to the Belleview High School Rattlers Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. [Alan Youngblood/Special to the Ocala Gazette]
B10 SEPTEMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 | OCALA GAZETTE FOOTBALL SCORES September 2 North Marion 35 Dunnellon 0 Vanguard 7 Niceville 15 Crystal River 6 Belleview 16 Winter Springs 0 West Port 30 Lake Weir 13 Central 47 Clearwater Central Catholic 27 Trinity Catholic 35 St. John Lutheran 13 FL School for the Deaf & Blind 22 Ocala Christian Academy 7 Old Plank Christian Academy 47 Postponed: Forest at First Coast, game will be played at Forest on 9/9 at 7 p.m, SCORESVOLLEYBALL August 29 Seven Rivers Christian 0 St. John Lutheran 3 (25-12, 25-13, 25-21) First Assembly Christian 2 Cedar Key 3 (21-25, 26-24, 25-27, 25-18, 15-9) August 30 North Marion 3 Redeemer Christian 0 (25-19, 27-25, 25-18) Forest 0 Buchholz 3 (25-16, 25-23, 25-14) West Port 3 Lake Weir 0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-8) Vanguard 1 Gainesville 3 (25-19, 18-25, 25-17, 25-23) Countryside Christian 0 St. John Lutheran 3 (25-14, 25-21, 25-12) First Assembly Christian 2 First Christian 3 August 31 Eastside 0 North Marion 3 (25-15, 25-17, 25-12) Crystal River 3 Dunnellon 0 (25-20, 25-8, 25-16) Lecanto 3 Belleview 0 (25-22, 25-11, 25-19) Umatilla 3 Lake Weir 0 September 1 Lake Weir 0 North Marion 3 (25-6, 25-17, 25-17) Belleview 0 Forest 3 (25-8, 25-16, 25-15) St. John Lutheran 1 Montverde Academy 3 (25-21, 25-18, 20-25, 25-13) Aucilla Christians 3 Ocala Christian Academy 0 (25-13, 25-22, Meadowbrook25-19)Academy 3 Wildwood 0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-19) Peniel Baptist Academy 0 Redeemer Christian 3 (25-18, 25-6, 25-22) First Assembly Christian 3 New Testament Christian 0 (25-7, 25-15, 25-12) September 2 Nike Tournament of Champions Trinity (25-17,FortVanguard(25-14,JacksonVanguard(25-16,WaltonTrinity(25-23,St.Trinity(25-14,MusselmanCatholic(WV)23-25,15-12)CatholicThomasAquinas25-20)Catholic(GA)25-16)Academy(MS)25-22)Myers25-15) September 3 Nike Tournament of Champions Trinity LafayetteTrinity(26-24,WestminsterCatholicChristian25-18)Catholic(MO) 2 (25-15, 25-22) Trinity Catholic 2 Venice 1 (25-27, 25-15, 16-14) Vanguard 0 Dr. Phillips 2 (25-19, 25-22) Results were compiled by Allen Barney SELECTED MARION COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL & RESULTSSPORTSCOLLEGEAUG.29-SEPT.3
North Marion’s R’Jayvious Johnson (6) breaks away from Dunnellon defenders during a football game at Dunnellon High School on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
Lake Weir’s Kyra Rigozzi (18) spikes the ball as North Marion’s Brooke McConnell (3) jumps for the block during a volleyball match at North Marion High School in Citra on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022. North Marion’s Kendall McCubbin (7) and Ke’Anti Henderson (4) combine to block a Lake Weir spike during a volleyball match at North Marion High School in Citra on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.
SCORE BOARD
